Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Central Washington University

Central Washington's writing studies program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—at $27,832 in first-year earnings, graduates earn slightly less than both the national median ($28,418) and Washington's state median ($28,795). More concerning is the 40th percentile ranking within Washington, meaning six out of nine in-state programs deliver better outcomes. Students here trail UW's campuses by nearly $2,000 annually and even fall behind Western Washington, while carrying slightly more debt than the state average.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $23,224, graduates borrow less than the national typical amount and face a manageable 0.83 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning they owe less than one year's salary. For a highly accessible school serving a substantial population of Pell grant recipients, that's reasonable. However, parents should recognize that writing studies graduates often need time to build careers, and starting at under $28,000 requires careful financial planning, especially when peer programs in Washington deliver noticeably stronger outcomes.

For families prioritizing affordability and access over top-tier earnings, Central Washington works—the debt burden won't be crushing. But if your student can gain admission to UW or Western Washington, those programs offer better financial returns for similar or lower debt loads. This is a serviceable choice for students committed to staying in Ellensburg, but not the strongest value among Washington's writing programs.