Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at University of Louisiana at Monroe
LA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 23.13
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies degree from University of Louisiana at Monroe earn a median salary of $49,582 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in LA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $53,718. The degree typically pays for itself in 15.9 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$34,596
Typical Career
$49,582
Top Performers
$65,194
Estimated break-even: 15.9 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$331
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,132. Most students can comfortably afford about a $331 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Louisiana buys what costs $0.92 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Retail Trade.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$53,718
Nominal: $49,582 in Louisiana (COL 92.3% of national avg) · 8.3% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $22,038 | $29,421 | $33,937 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $34,596 | $49,582 | $65,194 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $39,310 | $53,485 | $74,301 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $49,582 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in LA, which has a cost-of-living index of 92.3% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $49,582 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9230)
= $53,718 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary sectors employing these graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (31.4%), Educational Services (18.8%), and Retail Trade (7.5%). The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 15.9 years, suggesting that while the investment in a degree may take time to pay off, the potential for higher earnings in relevant industries is evident. Overall, while the ROI may not be immediate, the degree offers a pathway to stable employment in growing fields.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.