Compare 29 Writing, General. programs in the South. Average earnings: $37,730.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Writing, General. tells a different story. Across 29 programs, earnings range from $26,994 to $64,598—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
James Madison University's Writing, General. program leads with graduates earning $64,598, well above the $37,730 average. Clemson follows at $62,729, while UT Austin rounds out the top three at $55,146—proving that program-specific factors drive outcomes more than institutional prestige.
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. For families including parent loans, University of Houston-Downtown leads with a 15.3% family burden—proof that the best choice depends on who's paying.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $64,598 | 36 | $20,093 | Excellent | $37,285 | Challenging |
| #2 | Clemson UniversityPublic | $62,729 | 79 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,463 | Challenging |
| #3 | $55,146 | 49 | $20,500 | Good | $26,632 | Challenging | |
| #4 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $54,995 | 45 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | Challenging |
| #5 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $54,379 | 210 | $19,500 | Good | $25,142 | Challenging |
| #6 | $50,652 | 126 | $19,250 | Good | $23,211 | Challenging | |
| #7 | $49,683 | 11 | $18,750 | Good | $10,000 | Manageable | |
| #8 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $49,468 | 157 | $21,500 | Good | $23,443 | Challenging |
| #9 | $48,230 | 16 | $17,988 | Good | $15,541 | Challenging | |
| #10 | Old Dominion UniversityPublic | $45,919 | 218 | $24,000 | Manageable | $18,866 | High |
| #11 | $40,745 | 58 | $23,250 | Manageable | $16,000 | High | |
| #12 | $40,400 | 43 | $19,500 | Manageable | $22,737 | High | |
| #13 | Loyola University MarylandPrivate | $39,009 | 27 | $27,000 | Challenging | $50,344 | High |
| #14 | Saint Edward's UniversityPrivate | $38,176 | 24 | $24,803 | Challenging | $28,135 | High |
| #15 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | $36,668 | 20 | $23,000 | Challenging | $50,786 | High |
| #16 | $35,882 | 18 | $19,442 | Challenging | $16,938 | High | |
| #17 | University Of MontevalloPublic | $31,314 | 24 | $24,000 | High | $23,233 | High |
| #18 | $29,298 | 27 | $25,148 | High | $99,784 | High | |
| #19 | $27,942 | 17 | $23,409 | High | $18,080 | High | |
| #20 | Lipscomb UniversityPrivate | $26,994 | 22 | $19,500 | High | $30,298 | High |
| #21 | $26,353 | 17 | $21,000 | High | $15,191 | High | |
| #22 | $26,282 | 31 | $18,190 | High | $16,036 | High | |
| #23 | The University Of TampaPrivate | $25,510 | 15 | $24,211 | High | $53,549 | High |
| #24 | Jackson State UniversityPublic | $25,194 | 11 | $30,470 | High | $15,000 | High |
| #25 | $25,194 | 9 | $22,250 | High | $15,753 | High |
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 →
