Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at DePauw University

DePauw's writing studies program shows an unusual trajectory that parents should understand before committing. While starting salaries of $31,640 trail many majors, graduates see earnings jump 66% by year four to reach $52,656—well above both Indiana's median ($28,556) and the national benchmark ($28,418). That kind of earnings acceleration is uncommon and suggests graduates are successfully pivoting into higher-paying communications, marketing, or editing roles after gaining initial experience.

The $27,000 debt load is actually lower than typical for this major nationally, landing in the 5th percentile for debt—meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with more debt. At DePauw, that translates to manageable monthly payments relative to those mid-career earnings. Among Indiana's 18 writing programs, this one ranks in the 60th percentile, though it notably trails Wabash College's $50,446 median. Still, at a school where only 16% of students receive Pell grants, many families may be paying out-of-pocket or taking on additional parent loans beyond these student debt figures.

The major caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly. However, the combination of below-average debt and strong earnings growth suggests reasonable value, especially for students who can leverage DePauw's small liberal arts environment to build the portfolio and connections that lead to those better year-four outcomes.