Compare 23 Writing, General. programs in the West. Average earnings: $38,253.
With top graduates earning $63,308, Writing, General. stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $25K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion leads with Writing, General. graduates earning $63,308, well above the $38,253 average across 23 Western programs. Chapman University follows at $53,340, while UC Berkeley rounds out the top three at $51,969—demonstrating that program outcomes don't follow predictable school hierarchies.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. UC Berkeley graduates borrow $13,000 and face just a 6.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Arizona State offers the best family value with a 15.7% family burden, proving that top programs can deliver both strong earnings and manageable debt.
Highest program earnings: $63,308
Strong outcomes with 90% acceptance
6.1% payment burden | Excellent
15.7% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $63,308 | 48 | $19,500 | Excellent | $23,519 | Manageable | |
| #2 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | $53,340 | 30 | $20,500 | Good | $44,954 | High |
| #3 | $51,969 | 59 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $50,044 | 34 | $18,000 | Good | $31,803 | High | |
| #5 | $49,202 | 62 | $21,500 | Good | $13,743 | Challenging | |
| #6 | University Of UtahPublic | $47,950 | 36 | $19,000 | Good | $18,886 | Challenging |
| #7 | $44,399 | 113 | $18,450 | Good | $13,000 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $43,867 | 32 | $20,500 | Manageable | $21,716 | High | |
| #9 | $40,620 | 9 | $15,371 | Good | $19,732 | High | |
| #10 | $40,072 | 16 | $17,095 | Manageable | $10,166 | Challenging | |
| #11 | University Of ArizonaPublic | $39,867 | 59 | $19,620 | Manageable | $30,126 | High |
| #12 | University Of RedlandsPrivate | $39,601 | 8 | $26,000 | Challenging | $28,208 | High |
| #13 | Pacific Lutheran UniversityPrivate | $37,881 | 14 | $22,578 | Challenging | $25,000 | High |
| #14 | $33,995 | 47 | $14,615 | Manageable | $24,883 | High | |
| #15 | $32,082 | 71 | $17,500 | High | $18,275 | High | |
| #16 | $30,090 | 122 | $18,500 | High | $23,123 | High | |
| #17 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | $29,685 | 20 | $23,510 | High | $41,309 | High |
| #18 | Thomas Aquinas CollegePrivate | $29,487 | 14 | $18,000 | High | $0 | High |
| #19 | $27,832 | 47 | $19,500 | High | $22,000 | High | |
| #20 | Seattle UniversityPrivate | $26,353 | 16 | $19,883 | High | $37,520 | High |
| #21 | Pacific UniversityPrivate | $25,194 | 9 | $23,223 | High | $33,960 | High |
| #22 | University Of Puget SoundPrivate | $22,251 | 12 | $25,000 | High | $52,058 | High |
| #23 | University Of IdahoPublic | $20,730 | 23 | $21,982 | High | $21,162 | 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 →
