Location: Iowa City, IA•In-State Tuition: $10,964•Out-of-State Tuition: $32,927•Admission Rate: 85%•Avg SAT: 1220
Median Earnings (1yr)
$29,655
11th percentile
Sample: 49 graduates

Earnings Distribution

How University of Iowa graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Iowa earns $30k — 11th percentile among rhetoric and composition/writing studies masters programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of Iowa$29,655$39,506+33%
University of Washington-Bothell Campus$40,280$101,596+152%
University of Washington-Seattle Campus$40,280$101,596+152%
George Mason University$35,318$63,463+80%
Fairfield University$50,135$60,929+22%

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies masters's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of IowaIowa City$10,964$29,655$39,506——
Northeastern UniversityBoston$63,141$77,360———
Northeastern University Professional ProgramsBoston—$77,360———
Mount Saint Mary's UniversityLos Angeles$48,132$70,010———
The University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso$9,744$63,112$43,847——
Ashland UniversityAshland$28,910$61,708———
National Median—$41,249———

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with rhetoric and composition/writing studies graduates

Technical Writers

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

$91,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Editors

Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.

$75,260/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Writers and Authors

Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.

$72,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.

$72,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Postsecondary Teachers, All Other

All postsecondary teachers not listed separately.

Proofreaders and Copy Markers

Read transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Excludes workers whose primary duty is editing copy. Includes proofreaders of braille.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Iowa, approximately 18% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.