Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Old Dominion University

Old Dominion's writing program earns its graduates $35,716 in their first year—significantly ahead of the $28,418 national median and matching Virginia's state median exactly. More impressive is where those earnings go: four years out, graduates are making $46,000, a 29% jump that suggests this degree builds marketable skills that employers increasingly value. With debt of $26,000 and a manageable 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates typically need less than nine months of gross earnings to cover their loans.

The program sits at the 80th percentile nationally for earnings, which is strong positioning among the 498 schools offering this major. Within Virginia, it holds the 60th percentile—respectable considering George Mason's top program earns just $4,400 more while Roanoke's surprisingly trails at under $20,000. The $26,000 debt load is slightly above Virginia's $23,250 median but remains well below concerning levels.

For parents worried about the marketability of a writing degree, these numbers tell a reassuring story. The steady earnings growth and low debt burden create a foundation where graduates can build careers without financial strain. Old Dominion's open-access mission (91% admission rate, 37% Pell students) makes this accessible to a broad range of students, and the robust sample size confirms these outcomes are consistent, not outliers.