### SUMMARY

 Going to school for Rhetoric and Composition is a valuable choice and commonly a needed first step for pupils intending to pursue a career as a rhetoric writer, an editor, or a professor of rhetoric and composition. In fact, nationally, rhetoric and composition is a very rare degree coming in at the 131st most popular degree. Last academic year, there were 2,427 rhetoric and composition diplomas received. In-state tuition for rhetoric and composition at private institutions is, on average, 3.8 times more pricey than their public fellows.

 With only 104 schools having programs for rhetoric and composition you could have a more finite list of the institutions which will have a degree program for you. If you're hoping to immerse yourself with other rhetoric and composition majors, consider looking at schools in Texas which have more undergraduates admitted to rhetoric and composition than any other state. More generally, the top region to get a degree in rhetoric and composition is in the Southeast region with [Clemson University](/colleges/clemson-university), [George Mason University](/colleges/george-mason-university), and [Old Dominion University](/colleges/old-dominion-university) best representing the region. Interestingly, our selection of the best conference to study rhetoric and composition is the Conference USA with [University of North Texas](/colleges/university-of-north-texas), [Old Dominion University](/colleges/old-dominion-university), and [Marshall University](/colleges/marshall-university) representing the conference. From our extensive list on the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges), our choice for the best school for rhetoric and composition is [Bates College](/colleges/bates-college).

 The overall 'best' school might not actually be the 'best' school for you. There can be lots more perspectives to weigh when selecting college. External stuff like campus amenities, transportation services, and food would refashion one's thoughts on which college to attend. Here at authority.org, we've evaluated the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you are interested in which rhetoric and composition college is home to the top campus, the answer is [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign). If, for example, you are very interested in which university boasts the best campus, we have an entire page [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through student reviews, professor reviews, government databases, and more to compare all U.S. majors in an unbiased and informative way. Here you can find our comprehensive list for the colleges with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbspand from that list, our selection of the school with the best student life for rhetoric and composition is [Bates College](/colleges/bates-college). Curious why? Continue scrolling to discover more about our top selections. Many of our picks will probably surprise you.

 If expense is a primary influence in your decisions, you might consider avoiding [Bates College](/colleges/bates-college). [Bates College](/colleges/bates-college)&nbspappears to be the most expensive college for rhetoric and composition, at least for out of state enrollment. We have a page for the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspschools that might put the expense at [Bates College](/colleges/bates-college)&nbspinto perspective. You may also want to know that rhetoric and composition is the 291st most expensive major in the nation, with an average bill of $24,900. To zoom out a little, the most expensive state for rhetoric and composition in the country is Maine with tuition and fees at the main college, Bates College, of $55,683. Even more broadly, the most costly region of the U.S. for rhetoric and composition is the New England region which is best demonstrated with [Bates College](/colleges/bates-college) with a cost of $55,683, and [University of Rhode Island](/colleges/university-of-rhode-island) with a cost of $29,710.

 Our cheapest region for rhetoric and composition is the Plains region which is represented by [University of Minnesota-Morris](/colleges/university-of-minnesota-morris) with a cost of $14,378, [University of Nebraska at Kearney](/colleges/university-of-nebraska-at-kearney) with a cost of $13,290, and [Northern State University](/colleges/northern-state-university) with a cost of $10,611. In better news, the most affordable university for rhetoric and composition is [University of Minnesota-Morris](/colleges/university-of-minnesota-morris). Authority's comprehensive list of the most affordable universities can be found [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state learners can anticipate paying in the neighborhood of $11,100 for a degree in rhetoric and composition. The price inflates significantly to a median of $24,200 for the out-of-state public-school undergraduate. Our pick for the university constituting the best value for rhetoric and composition: [Bates College](/colleges/bates-college). Through this link you can find our comprehensive list about the schools we see as being the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspoverall. Do know, this section is predicated on the assumption that you are an out-of-state student. A discussion of value changes when in-state tuition is considered, but we do not know in which states any one student has residency.

 Earnings for rhetoric and composition students vary a lot, but two years after graduation graduates will often earn around $61,000. While there can be much variation in earnings potential; top positions can enjoy pay up to $89,200. Right out of university, the minimum earning opportunities within the rhetoric and composition field earn $40,800, which could be worse. The top earning grads from rhetoric and composition come from [University of Richmond](/colleges/university-of-richmond)&nbspand if you are looking for schools with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), Authority has that too.

 The general diversity of rhetoric and composition stands on the higher end, coming in the 52nd percentile of all majors. The college with the most composite diversity for rhetoric and composition is [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley)&nbspand here you can find our general list of the colleges with the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The financial diversity of the Rhetoric and Composition major only ranks within the 89th percentile of all majors. Racial diversity is even further below average in the 54th percentile. White undergraduates make up the largest proportion, 61%, of students majoring in rhetoric and composition. Additionally, 64% of scholars pursuing a rhetoric and composition major are women.

 The median ranking of rhetoric and composition professors is 4.2 stars, a rating which is 5% better than the median score across every major; which is a good score. If you are interested in the most popular rhetoric and composition professor in the nation, consider looking up We have insufficient professors data for rhetoric and composition to make the conclusions we normally would have made in this sentence. If we incorporate data other than simply rankings we find that the university possessing comprehensively the best instructors for rhetoric and composition is [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley). You will find more detail on our ever evolving ranking methodology of the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), along with some of the finest instructors in the U.S.

 Finally, the most difficult university to get into for rhetoric and composition is [Bates College](/colleges/bates-college). While we think of this list more as a novelty, we do have an extensive page for the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). With that said, we do hope you believe that considering college with context only informed by superlatives can cause problems. We encourage you to read our more nuanced pages on different topics and peruse some of our informative background 'blog posts' on essential details to consider as you progress with your school search.



 ### POPULARITY

 Rhetoric and composition is the 131st most popular degree in America, with 2,427 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #132 [Zoology](/rankings/best-colleges-for-zoology), and narrowly lost to #130 [Behavioral Sciences](/rankings/best-colleges-for-behavioral-sciences).

 The degree is offered at a total of 104 colleges across the nation, and is the 156th most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 7% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America.

 It is also worth noting that 76% of colleges offering rhetoric and composition are public making it a quite accessible field.

 The southeast produces the most rhetoric and composition graduates, largely led by [Clemson University](/colleges/clemson-university), while it’s the Conference USA that leads conference totals. As far as states, Texas ranks highest, with particular help from [University of North Texas](/colleges/university-of-north-texas) and [Texas State University](/colleges/texas-state-university).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more rhetoric and composition graduates than [University of Arizona](/colleges/university-of-arizona), which graduated 218 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study rhetoric and composition). More students studied rhetoric and composition as a percentage of total students at [Wabash College](/colleges/wabash-college) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Rhetoric and composition is the 291st most expensive major in America, with a median cost of $24,888 among the top 50 programs (just ahead of #292, [Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology](rankings/best-colleges-for-atmospheric-sciences-and-meteorology), with a median cost of $24,700).

 New England has the most expensive colleges with top of the line rhetoric and composition programs led by [Bates College](/colleges/bates-college) with an annual cost of $55,683. The most expensive state for rhetoric and composition is Maine also led by [Bates College](/colleges/bates-college).

 Public schools with good programs typically charge 73.38% less than private schools for in-state students. However, when looking at out-of-state tuition, the median top 50 Public school charges 42.06% less than your average private school. So be sure to check out public shools in your state as soon as possible.

 The most expensive option in the top 25 is [Bates College](/colleges/bates-college), which is the 47th most expensive college in the United States. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [Jackson State University](/colleges/jackson-state-university). It costs just $8,270 per year, and it is ranked 47th for its rhetoric and composition program. If you’re looking for a higher ranked, but still affordable option, [University of Minnesota-Morris](/colleges/university-of-minnesota-morris)  is probably right for you, ranked #20 with an in-state cost of just $12,324. Another more affordable choice would be #25, [Georgia Southern University](/colleges/georgia-southern-university) in Bulloch County, GA with a cost of $4,371 for in-state students and $15,426 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 College is a major investment for most students. It's critical to make sure you are well positioned to gain financially from your investment. We wish for the following job placement and income stats to guide you in deciding your major at college.

 The average Rhetoric and Composition student takes in a first year salary of $33,387 per annum (bottom 37%). Later on in their employment, they can make as much as $89,186 to as little as $40,847, but average roughly $61,020. For context, that is 58% north of the American average.

 The most common work title for a Rhetoric and Composition graduate is Analyst, which for the most part earn around $54,000; next are Account Executive and Marketing Internship, which usually make about $36,000 and $24,000 respectively.

 The Southeast has the highest earning Rhetoric and Composition graduates. The best paid state for Rhetoric and Composition alumni is SC. University Athletic Association has the highest grossing Rhetoric and Composition graduates of any conference..



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Rhetoric and Composition: Median Professor Rating: 4.2 / 5, which is Top 100.

 Instructors constantly play a critical role in your college experience, no matter what you study. An amazing teacher can provide inspiration and even make a difficult subject seem fun. Conversely, a bad professor can drive unwelcome stress or even worse... flunk you!

 Rhetoric and Composition professors have a median student rating of 4.2 out of 5, which puts them in the upper 29th percentile in the nation grounded in overall professor quality. For context a 4.2 rating is 5% greater than the national median professor rating for all subjects. Rhetoric and Composition professors slightly edged-out those from ["Retailing and Retail Operations"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-retailing-and-retail-operations), whereas ["Philosophy"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-philosophy)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Rhetoric and Composition.

 Now for some statistics about Rhetoric and Composition professors. Colleges located in large suburbs tend to have the best Rhetoric and Composition professors. The Pacific-12 Conference has the highest rated Rhetoric and Composition professors. The Far West region has the highest rated Rhetoric and Composition professors. Public universities tend to have higher rated Rhetoric and Composition professors than private universities. Finally, Washington has the highest rated Rhetoric and Composition professors in the US.

 

### STUDENTS

 College often can be an especially impactful time in one's life; it is a time for personal growth and development. Pupils continue to realize what they hope to become and learn many of the imperative skills to become a prosperous member of society. But growth isn't exclusively confined to a classroom environment - the conversations one has with her schoolmates, the wild anecdote gained from a tenured instructor, the exposure to a different point of view. As such, finding a diverse college tremendously enriches what one gains from the time at university.

 Rhetoric and Composition is a slightly more racially diverse subject than average\*. 61% of the nation's Rhetoric and Composition majors are white students, followed by latino students (15%), black students (12%), and students of other races\*\*(8%). The most racially diverse college\* in the top 100 is [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley)&nbspin Berkeley, CA.

 Second, Rhetoric and Composition significatly skews female, with 64% of students majoring in Rhetoric and Composition identifying as women. The most gender balanced school in the top 100 is [Ferris State University](/colleges/ferris-state-university) in Big Rapids, MI.

 Another important type of diversity is socioeconomic diversity. Rhetoric and Composition is the 46th most economically diverse subject in the nation. 28% of its majors come from households with a sub $30,000 yearly income, 16% are from homes with $30,000 to $48,000 annual incomes, and 24% grew up in high income families. [University of Nebraska at Kearney](/colleges/university-of-nebraska-at-kearney) is the most socioeconomically diverse school in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall CA is the most diverse state for Rhetoric and Composition. The Far West is the most diverse region, and the Pacific-12 Conference is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 4%
* Black: 12%
* Latino: 15%
* White: 61%
* Other: 8%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 36%
* Female: 64%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 28%
* 30k - 48k: 16%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 16%
* Over 110k: 24%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 79%
* Out of State: 17%
* International: 3%


Carnegie Mellon University

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College of the Holy Cross

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California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Binghamton University

Pepperdine University

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Wabash College

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Drake University

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California State University-Long Beach

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2023 Rhetoric and Composition Salary

There are about 6,180 students enrolled in Rhetoric and Composition in the USA.

SALARY