Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Beloit College

A recent Beloit graduate with this degree earned just $21,720 their first year—about $7,000 below the Wisconsin median and landing in the 15th percentile nationally. That's concerning, though the 50% earnings jump to $32,518 by year four suggests the trajectory improves. Still, even at year four, graduates trail the top Wisconsin program (UW-Stout at $35,423) and barely exceed what peers at other schools earn right out of college.

The debt picture offers one bright spot: $27,000 sits at just the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with more debt. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.24, graduates owe slightly more than their first year's salary—manageable if that early career struggle doesn't derail them financially. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few outliers could be skewing these numbers significantly in either direction.

For families paying Beloit's tuition, this represents a tough first few years followed by gradual improvement. The question is whether your child can weather earning roughly $1,800 monthly while managing $27,000 in debt. If they're passionate about writing careers and have financial support during that initial period, the upward trend offers hope. Without that cushion, they might fare better at a state school where outcomes start stronger.