Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Federal field 2313

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$8,720 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 67.9% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −118% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+57%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$25,060 → $39,240

48Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

70Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

100Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

86Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$52,000Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$26,598

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$27,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$39,751

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$26,598Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$51,889Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE89.5%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE51.5%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$25,060Year 1

$39,751Year 4

$39,240Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

8.6% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$3,313

Estimated loan payment$286

86borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$39,751 vs. $48,471

$8,720 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$77,570 median wageIL estimate · 2,570 jobs · 25-1123+0.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEditors$76,060 median wageIL estimate · 4,560 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$68,220 median wageIL estimate · 2,640 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePostsecondary Teachers, All Other$59,590 median wageIL estimate · 990 jobs · 25-1199+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 12.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeTechnical Writers$88,700 median wageIL estimate · 1,040 jobs · 27-3042+0.8% projected U.S. growth · 3.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeProofreaders and Copy Markers$50,060 median wageIL estimate · 300 jobs · 43-9081-0.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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