Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at University of Nebraska at Omaha

A writing degree from UNO lands graduates in the bottom quarter of Nebraska programs, earning $26,360 in the first year—nearly $5,000 below the state median and trailing significantly behind the University of Nebraska at Kearney's $35,726. With only two schools in Nebraska offering this degree, that gap matters for students who could access either campus.

The debt load of $24,825 isn't excessive by itself, creating a manageable 0.94 ratio to first-year earnings. But the real concern is what you're getting for that investment. At 39th percentile nationally, UNO graduates earn less than six out of ten peers across the country. The starting salary barely clears $26,000, which is tight living in today's economy even with reasonable debt.

Important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could vary considerably from these medians. However, the pattern of underperformance relative to both state and national benchmarks shouldn't be ignored. If your student is committed to studying writing in Nebraska and has access to UNK, that program shows substantially stronger early outcomes. If UNO is the only realistic option, go in understanding that building a career from this starting point will require hustle beyond the degree itself.