CollegeCostWise

Bachelor's · Chicago, Illinois

Is Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at School of the Art Institute of Chicago worth it?

Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Graduates typically don't earn back the cost within 20 years, compared with the no-degree baseline.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
$37,916
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
Not enough graduates to report
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
Not enough borrowers to report
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families
$226k (likely $226k – $298k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
$238 a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in IL
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
Not within 20 years in most scenarios
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
−$469k (likely −$597k – −$363k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
−$469k (likely −$641k – −$271k)
Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide)
68%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

Change income, residency or loans Compare Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at other schools

🎬 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward media & storytelling majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

  • AP English Language and Composition
  • AP English Literature and Composition
  • AP Seminar

IB Higher Level

  • Language A: Literature HL or Language and Literature HL
  • Film HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at other schools in Illinois