Compare 137 Writing, General. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $35,815. Top programs: $76,444+.
With top graduates earning $76,444, Writing, General. stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $40K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Carnegie Mellon University's Writing, General. program leads with graduates earning $76,444, despite the field's average of $35,815 across 137 programs. James Madison University follows at $64,598, proving regional universities compete with elite institutions when programs are evaluated on outcomes rather than brand recognition.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Johns Hopkins graduates borrow $10,250 and face just a 4.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Carnegie Mellon achieves similar affordability with a 5.5% burden, proving top programs can deliver both strong earnings and manageable debt.
Highest program earnings: $76,444
Strong outcomes ($64,598) with 76% acceptance
4.3% payment burden | Excellent
15.3% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $76,444 | 29 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Manageable |
| #2 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $64,598 | 36 | $20,093 | Excellent | $37,285 | Challenging |
| #3 | $63,308 | 48 | $19,500 | Excellent | $23,519 | Manageable | |
| #4 | Clemson UniversityPublic | $62,729 | 79 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,463 | Challenging |
| #5 | $55,146 | 49 | $20,500 | Good | $26,632 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $55,081 | 35 | $23,250 | Good | $37,401 | High | |
| #7 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $54,995 | 45 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | Challenging |
| #8 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $54,379 | 210 | $19,500 | Good | $25,142 | Challenging |
| #9 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | $53,340 | 30 | $20,500 | Good | $44,954 | High |
| #10 | $52,934 | 30 | $25,000 | Good | $28,373 | High | |
| #11 | Depauw UniversityPrivate | $52,656 | 18 | $27,000 | Manageable | $35,134 | High |
| #12 | $52,134 | 176 | $23,500 | Good | $25,362 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $51,969 | 59 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Challenging | |
| #14 | $51,684 | 23 | $22,250 | Good | $28,000 | High | |
| #15 | $51,465 | 212 | $19,500 | Good | $25,729 | Challenging | |
| #16 | $50,652 | 126 | $19,250 | Good | $23,211 | Challenging | |
| #17 | $50,044 | 34 | $18,000 | Good | $31,803 | High | |
| #18 | $49,683 | 11 | $18,750 | Good | $10,000 | Manageable | |
| #19 | Elmhurst UniversityPrivate | $49,481 | 17 | $20,489 | Good | $27,470 | High |
| #20 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $49,468 | 157 | $21,500 | Good | $23,443 | Challenging |
| #21 | $49,202 | 62 | $21,500 | Good | $13,743 | Challenging | |
| #22 | Wabash CollegePrivate | $49,058 | 10 | $27,000 | Manageable | $28,000 | High |
| #23 | $48,230 | 16 | $17,988 | Good | $15,541 | Challenging | |
| #24 | $47,992 | 26 | $21,992 | Good | $15,092 | Challenging | |
| #25 | University Of UtahPublic | $47,950 | 36 | $19,000 | Good | $18,886 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
