Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies: is this graduate/professional certificate worth it?
National picture across 1 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$65,582 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$65,582Median year-4 earnings
$8,134Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$65,582Median reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
31thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
1Reporting programs
1With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,877
- Federal debt
- $26,698
- Reporting programs
- 4
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $46,418
- Federal debt
- $25,250
- Reporting programs
- 3
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,141
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 153
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,116
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 76
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,788
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,582
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$65,582National median$65,58275th percentile$65,582
1 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Indiana University-East$65,582Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
EditorsSOC 27-3041 · 5 crosswalk linksEnglish Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1123 · 5 crosswalk linksWriters and AuthorsSOC 27-3043 · 5 crosswalk linksPostsecondary Teachers, All OtherSOC 25-1199 · 4 crosswalk linksProofreaders and Copy MarkersSOC 43-9081 · 2 crosswalk linksTechnical WritersSOC 27-3042 · 2 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana University-EastGraduate/Professional Certificate | Richmond, IN | $65,582 | Not available | Baseline needed | $8,134 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.