Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Elmhurst University

Elmhurst's writing studies program shows promising earnings trajectory, though the limited graduate data means these numbers could shift. At $33,556 in year one, graduates earn more than 80% of similar programs in Illinois—a significant advantage in a state where the typical writing studies graduate starts at just $24,225. The 48% earnings jump to nearly $50,000 by year four suggests graduates are finding professional paths that value their communication skills.

The $23,250 median debt sits below both the program's national average and Illinois median, creating a manageable debt burden of 0.69 times first-year earnings. While that's not trivial, it's reasonable for a humanities degree, and the strong earnings growth means graduates should find repayment increasingly manageable as they establish their careers. The program outperforms bigger-name options like Columbia College Chicago and even UIUC in terms of early earnings.

The small sample size is the main wild card here. With fewer than 30 graduates in the data, one exceptional outcome could skew these figures significantly. However, the combination of below-average debt and above-average earnings—particularly within Illinois—suggests Elmhurst is doing something right in preparing writing students for employment. For families concerned about ROI in the humanities, this program demonstrates that writing degrees can lead to solid middle-class incomes, especially when debt is kept reasonable.