Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Champlain College

Champlain College's writing program starts graduates at a significantly lower salary than the national benchmark—$23,237 versus $28,418 nationally—but shows remarkable momentum with 57% earnings growth by year four. While the first-year earnings place this program in just the 22nd percentile nationally, the four-year mark tells a different story: graduates more than double typical annual increases, reaching $36,401. Within Vermont's limited writing program landscape, this sits at the state median, though that's not much of a distinction among just four options.

The $26,000 debt load is close to national norms and manageable relative to fourth-year earnings, but parents should understand the practical reality of that first year: their graduate will likely need financial support or a second income source while establishing their career. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.12 improves dramatically as earnings climb, but those early months require planning.

The key question is whether your child can weather the lean startup period. If they're comfortable with a gradual build—perhaps supplementing with freelance work or a flexible living situation—the trajectory looks promising. But if they need financial independence immediately after graduation, this program's delayed payoff will be frustrating. The growth is real, just not immediate.