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# Top Rhetoric and Writing Studies Programs in the Midwest

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best English Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-english-colleges-in-the-midwest/)

This page ranks the 49 Rhetoric and Writing Studies programs in the Midwest by the median earnings of Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing. [Iowa State University](/school/iowa-state-university/majors/) leads the list at $69,673, followed by [Wabash College](/school/wabash-college/majors/) at $65,605 and [Marquette University](/school/marquette-university/majors/) at $62,473.

Across the listed schools, median earnings range from $69,673 down to $20,140, with a median of $40,792. For 11 of the programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

The list is nearly evenly split between 25 public and 24 private nonprofit institutions. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

University of Michigan-Flint posts the lowest average net price on the page at $7,007, while Loras College reports the highest admission rate at 100%.

## The ranked list

49 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Iowa State University · Ames, IA | $69,673 | $18,589 | $10,582 | 88.7% |
|  | [Iowa State University](/school/iowa-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $69,673](/school/iowa-state-university/outcomes/) for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list. |
| 2 | Wabash College · Crawfordsville, IN | $65,605 | $24,336 | $16,586 | 63.3% |
|  | [Wabash College](/school/wabash-college/majors/) [admits 63% of applicants](/school/wabash-college/admissions/) and its Rhetoric and Writing Studies completers who borrowed left with a median of $27,000 in federal loans. |
| 3 | Marquette University · Milwaukee, WI | $62,473 | $31,487 | $22,269 | 81.3% |
|  | [Marquette University](/school/marquette-university/majors/) ranks 3rd on this list, with [median earnings of $62,473](/school/marquette-university/outcomes/) four years after completing and an average net price of $31,487. |
| 4 | Miami University-Oxford · Oxford, OH | $61,474 | $28,384 | $16,015 | 75.4% |
|  | [Miami University-Oxford](/school/miami-university-oxford/majors/) has 93 graduates in the earnings cohort and sits 626th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 5 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN | $60,415 | $16,778 | $6,642 | 79.8% |
|  | [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/majors/) carries an [average net price of $6,642](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, alongside median earnings of $60,415 for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing. |
| 6 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $56,662 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% |
|  | [Michigan State University](/school/michigan-state-university/majors/) reports [median federal debt of $24,360](/school/michigan-state-university/cost/) among Rhetoric and Writing Studies completers who borrowed and an admission rate of 85%. |
| 7 | Missouri State University-Springfield · Springfield, MO | $54,917 | $17,613 | $13,718 | 90.5% |
|  | [Missouri State University-Springfield](/school/missouri-state-university-springfield/majors/) ranks 7th on this list and shows [median earnings of $54,917](/school/missouri-state-university-springfield/outcomes/) four years after completing, above the page median of $40,792. |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Stout · Menomonie, WI | $53,436 | $17,490 | $10,966 | 87.7% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-Stout](/school/university-of-wisconsin-stout/majors/) posts an [average net price of $17,490](/school/university-of-wisconsin-stout/cost/) and a median federal debt of $25,000 among Rhetoric and Writing Studies completers who borrowed. |
| 9 | DePauw University · Greencastle, IN | $51,983 | $22,264 | $11,820 | 57.2% |
|  | [DePauw University](/school/depauw-university/majors/) graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a [median of $27,000](/school/depauw-university/outcomes/) in federal loans, and its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates earned a median of $51,983 four years after completing. |
| 10 | Saginaw Valley State University · University Center, MI | $50,875 | $10,775 | $9,844 | 72.1% |
|  | [Saginaw Valley State University](/school/saginaw-valley-state-university/majors/) [admits 72% of applicants](/school/saginaw-valley-state-university/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $50,875 for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing. |
| 11 | Drake University · Des Moines, IA | $50,591 | $29,127 | $25,824 | 63.9% |
|  | [Drake University](/school/drake-university/majors/) [ranks 1050th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/drake-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an average net price of $25,824 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 12 | Drury University · Springfield, MO | $50,287 | $20,831 | $18,759 | 57.6% |
|  | [Drury University](/school/drury-university/majors/) reports [median federal debt of $20,186](/school/drury-university/cost/) among Rhetoric and Writing Studies completers who borrowed and median earnings of $50,287 four years after completing. |
| 13 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus · Bowling Green, OH | $50,120 | $24,022 | $18,396 | 81.0% |
|  | [Bowling Green State University-Main Campus](/school/bowling-green-state-university-main-campus/majors/) reports [median earnings of $50,120](/school/bowling-green-state-university-main-campus/outcomes/) for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing, alongside a cohort of 86 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 14 | Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN | $49,918 | $14,600 | $5,098 | 49.9% |
|  | [Purdue University-Main Campus](/school/purdue-university-main-campus/majors/) [admits 50% of applicants](/school/purdue-university-main-campus/admissions/) and posts an average net price of $14,600. |
| 15 | Ferris State University · Big Rapids, MI | $47,823 | $8,624 | $2,556 | 91.4% |
|  | [Ferris State University](/school/ferris-state-university/majors/) ranks 15th on this list, with [median federal debt of $21,500](/school/ferris-state-university/cost/) among Rhetoric and Writing Studies completers who borrowed. |
| 16 | Elmhurst University · Elmhurst, IL | $47,052 | $24,185 | $17,892 | 73.6% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Elmhurst, [Elmhurst University](/school/elmhurst-university/majors/) shows [median earnings of $47,052](/school/elmhurst-university/outcomes/) for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing. |
| 17 | Capital University · Columbus, OH | $46,135 | $22,576 | $19,062 | 70.2% |
|  | [Capital University](/school/capital-university/majors/) carries an [average net price of $22,576](/school/capital-university/cost/) and a school-wide median federal debt of $26,889 across all of its borrowers who completed. |
| 18 | Illinois College · Jacksonville, IL | $45,716 | $18,298 | $12,487 | 78.2% |
|  | Illinois College ranks 1189th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an admission rate of 78%. |
| 19 | Hamline University · Saint Paul, MN | $45,253 | $20,744 | $15,371 | 87.6% |
|  | [Hamline University](/school/hamline-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $45,253](/school/hamline-university/outcomes/) for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 12 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 20 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | $44,004 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
|  | [University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign](/school/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/majors/) [admits 42% of applicants](/school/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/admissions/) and lists an average net price of $14,355. |
| 21 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI | $43,689 | $13,138 | $1,043 | 15.6% |
|  | Median federal debt among Rhetoric and Writing Studies completers who borrowed is $13,999 at [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/majors/), which [ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 22 | Grand Valley State University · Allendale, MI | $43,552 | $16,317 | $12,272 | 83.0% |
|  | [Grand Valley State University](/school/grand-valley-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $43,552](/school/grand-valley-state-university/outcomes/) for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 83%. |
| 23 | Youngstown State University · Youngstown, OH | $43,031 | $12,767 | $9,328 | 84.5% |
|  | [Youngstown State University](/school/youngstown-state-university/majors/) ranks 23rd on this list and carries an [average net price of $12,767](/school/youngstown-state-university/cost/). |
| 24 | Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti, MI | $40,929 | $15,407 | $13,250 | 79.6% |
|  | [Eastern Michigan University](/school/eastern-michigan-university/majors/) shows a school-wide [median federal debt of $25,000](/school/eastern-michigan-university/cost/) across all of its borrowers who completed and an admission rate of 80%. |
| 25 | Western Michigan University · Kalamazoo, MI | $40,792 | $15,273 | $5,263 | 84.6% |
|  | [Western Michigan University](/school/western-michigan-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $40,792](/school/western-michigan-university/outcomes/) for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing, with 27 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 26 | Taylor University · Upland, IN | $40,573 | $24,865 | $16,143 | 73.5% |
|  | [Taylor University](/school/taylor-university/majors/), a private nonprofit institution in Upland, shows an [average net price of $24,865](/school/taylor-university/cost/) alongside median earnings of $40,573 for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing. |
| 27 | Ohio University-Main Campus · Athens, OH | $40,479 | $21,637 | $15,673 | 85.0% |
|  | [Ohio University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-university-main-campus/majors/) ranks 27th on this list and carries a [median federal debt of $25,500](/school/ohio-university-main-campus/cost/) among Rhetoric and Writing Studies completers who borrowed. |
| 28 | Truman State University · Kirksville, MO | $40,026 | $12,780 | $6,046 | 83.8% |
|  | [Truman State University](/school/truman-state-university/majors/) [admits 84% of applicants](/school/truman-state-university/admissions/) and posts median earnings of $40,026 for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing. |
| 29 | Northern Michigan University · Marquette, MI | $39,982 | $14,085 | $7,697 | 84.0% |
|  | [Northern Michigan University](/school/northern-michigan-university/majors/) [ranks 674th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/northern-michigan-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with median earnings of $39,982 for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing. |
| 30 | Columbia College Chicago · Chicago, IL | $39,751 | $26,598 | $20,924 | 89.5% |
|  | Columbia College Chicago reports an average net price of $20,924 for families earning under $30,000 and median earnings of $39,751 for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing. |
| 31 | Beloit College · Beloit, WI | $39,702 | $21,526 | $15,176 | 63.0% |
|  | [Beloit College](/school/beloit-college/majors/) ranks 31st on this list, with a [median federal debt of $26,000](/school/beloit-college/cost/) among Rhetoric and Writing Studies completers who borrowed. |
| 32 | Aquinas College · Grand Rapids, MI | $39,465 | $16,626 | $10,725 | 89.9% |
|  | [Aquinas College](/school/aquinas-college/majors/) shows [median earnings of $39,465](/school/aquinas-college/outcomes/) for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 90%. |
| 33 | Knox College · Galesburg, IL | $38,967 | $24,595 | $17,134 | 70.8% |
|  | Knox College ranks 1362nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, alongside an average net price of $24,595. |
| 34 | University of Evansville · Evansville, IN | $38,198 | $18,499 | $14,451 | 77.6% |
|  | University of Evansville reports median earnings of $38,198 for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing, with a school-wide median federal debt of $24,606 across all of the school's borrowers who completed. |
| 35 | University of Nebraska at Omaha · Omaha, NE | $37,986 | $13,441 | $10,534 | 87.0% |
|  | An [average net price of $10,534](/school/university-of-nebraska-at-omaha/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 coincides with an admission rate of 87% at [University of Nebraska at Omaha](/school/university-of-nebraska-at-omaha/majors/). |
| 36 | Augustana College · Rock Island, IL | $33,950 | $22,736 | $15,787 | 62.7% |
|  | [Augustana College](/school/augustana-college/majors/) ranks 36th on this list, with a school-wide [median federal debt of $27,000](/school/augustana-college/cost/) across all of the school's borrowers who completed. |
| 37 | University of Michigan-Flint · Flint, MI | $33,533 | $7,007 | $1,517 | 70.5% |
|  | [University of Michigan-Flint](/school/university-of-michigan-flint/majors/) reports [median earnings of $33,533](/school/university-of-michigan-flint/outcomes/) for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $7,007. |
| 38 | Calvin University · Grand Rapids, MI | $32,843 | $22,992 | $19,281 | 70.9% |
|  | [Calvin University](/school/calvin-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Grand Rapids, [admits 71% of applicants](/school/calvin-university/admissions/) and its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates earn a median of $32,843 four years after completing. |
| 39 | Augsburg University · Minneapolis, MN | $31,305 | $23,873 | $21,318 | 82.0% |
|  | [Augsburg University](/school/augsburg-university/majors/) ranks 39th on this list and carries an [Azimuth composite rank of 361st](/school/augsburg-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 40 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus · Cincinnati, OH | $30,047 | $25,648 | $17,974 | 85.3% |
|  | Graduates of [University of Cincinnati-Main Campus](/school/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus/majors/)'s Rhetoric and Writing Studies program earn a [median of $30,047](/school/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus/outcomes/) four years after completing, with an earnings cohort of 62 graduates. |
| 41 | University of St Thomas · Saint Paul, MN | $28,960 | $29,155 | $28,131 | 85.4% |
|  | University of St Thomas posts an average net price of $29,155 and an admission rate of 85%. |
| 42 | Valparaiso University · Valparaiso, IN | $28,598 | $18,578 | $11,043 | 89.4% |
|  | [Valparaiso University](/school/valparaiso-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $28,598](/school/valparaiso-university/outcomes/) for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $11,043 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 43 | Kansas City Art Institute · Kansas City, MO | $25,580 | $27,650 | $26,293 | 54.8% |
|  | Kansas City Art Institute admits 55% of applicants and its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates earn a median of $25,580 four years after completing. |
| 44 | Denison University · Granville, OH | $24,421 | $40,007 | $16,656 | 17.4% |
|  | [Denison University](/school/denison-university/majors/) ranks 44th on this list, with an [admission rate of 17%](/school/denison-university/admissions/) and an Azimuth composite rank of 985th among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 45 | Bemidji State University · Bemidji, MN | $21,781 | $15,261 | $10,073 | 56.0% |
|  | [Bemidji State University](/school/bemidji-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $21,781](/school/bemidji-state-university/outcomes/) for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $15,261. |
| 46 | University of Minnesota-Morris · Morris, MN | $21,508 | $8,837 | $1,694 | 74.9% |
|  | University of Minnesota-Morris carries an average net price of $1,694 for families earning under $30,000 and an admission rate of 75%. |
| 47 | Coe College · Cedar Rapids, IA | $21,508 | $18,745 | $11,479 | 64.0% |
|  | Coe College reports median earnings of $21,508 for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing, with an earnings cohort of 9 graduates. |
| 48 | Oakland University · Rochester Hills, MI | $20,140 | $9,120 | $4,422 | 87.8% |
|  | [Oakland University](/school/oakland-university/majors/) ranks 48th on this list and posts an [Azimuth composite rank of 147th](/school/oakland-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 49 | Loras College · Dubuque, IA | $20,140 | $20,716 | $20,479 | 99.9% |
|  | Loras College, a private nonprofit college in Dubuque, reports median earnings of $20,140 for its Rhetoric and Writing Studies graduates four years after completing, with 8 graduates in the earnings cohort. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Writing, General graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Midwest appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 11 of the 49 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between first-ranked Iowa State University and second-ranked Wabash College is $4,068, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $49,533.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Best English Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-english-colleges-in-the-midwest/)