Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Ohio University-Southern Campus

Starting at $23,399 puts this program well below the national median of $28,418, landing in just the 23rd percentile nationally. However, the state context reveals a more nuanced story: this outcome sits right at Ohio's median for writing programs, outperforming half the state's offerings. With small sample size (under 30 graduates), these numbers could shift significantly year to year, but the pattern suggests Ohio's writing graduates generally earn less than the national market.

The debt load of $26,500 translates to a manageable ratio of 1.13 times first-year earnings—not ideal, but far from crushing. The real challenge is that $23,399 starting salary, which barely exceeds $11 per hour if working full-time. Compare this to Miami University-Oxford's writing graduates earning $42,287, nearly double, and you see how much institutional reputation matters in this field. Even Youngstown State and Bowling Green graduates start around $31,000.

For families considering this program, understand you're looking at entry-level nonprofit, communications, or administrative work in a regional market. The degree is affordable debt-wise, but the earnings reflect limited local opportunities in Ironton's economy. If your student plans to stay in the region and values staying close to home, the investment pencils out. If career mobility or higher earning potential matters more, the comparison schools offer substantially better outcomes.