Writing: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for students seeking to master the art and science of effective communication, this program emphasizes the development of versatile writing skills across diverse contexts. It prepares learners to craft compelling, purpose-driven texts through rigorous study of composition, rhetoric, and digital media, equipping them for success in academic, professional, and public spheres.
- Writing and Document Design Across Genres, Modes, and Media: Explores the principles of structuring and presenting written content in varied formats—narrative, analytical, persuasive, technical—using print, digital, and multimedia platforms.
- Writing Technologies: Investigates digital tools and platforms that support drafting, revising, and publishing, including content management systems, collaborative software, and accessible design practices.
- Research, Evaluation, and Information Use: Develops critical abilities to locate, assess, and ethically integrate credible sources into written work, emphasizing evidence-based argumentation.
- Editing and Publishing Processes: Trains students in revision strategies, proofreading standards, and the mechanics of preparing manuscripts for formal publication or professional distribution.
- Theories and Processes of Composing: Examines cognitive, social, and collaborative approaches to writing, from initial ideation to final production.
- Rhetorical Theories, Traditions, and Analysis: Studies foundational and contemporary models of persuasion, audience adaptation, and discourse, drawing from classical and modern rhetorical frameworks.
- Communication Across Audiences, Contexts, and Cultures: Focuses on adapting tone, style, and content to suit diverse readerships, institutional environments, and global perspectives.
- Practical Applications in Professional and Academic Settings: Applies writing expertise to real-world challenges in technical documentation, organizational communication, academic writing, and public engagement.
Writing Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Writing Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Writing degrees, including Technical Writers, Postsecondary Teachers, All Other and English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 415,090 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Writers 27-3042 | $91,670 | $54,400 - $130,430 | 55,530 | $44.07 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other 25-1199 | $78,490 | $39,720 - $172,850 | 151,530 | N/A |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1123 | $78,270 | $47,540 - $154,800 | 59,590 | N/A |
| Editors 27-3041 | $75,260 | $36,200 - $140,840 | 95,480 | $36.18 |
| Writers and Authors 27-3043 | $72,270 | $41,080 - $133,680 | 47,800 | $34.75 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers 43-9081 | $49,210 | $33,530 - $78,040 | 5,160 | $23.66 |
Writing Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $54,182 in Arkansas to $95,032 in California—a 75% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Connecticut, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 415,090 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Writing by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Writing programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Writing is found at The University of Texas, Austin (34 graduates), Grand Valley State University (GVSU) (33 graduates), University of Iowa (32 graduates), University of North Alabama (UNA) (22 graduates), and University of Washington (UW Tacoma), Tacoma Campus (22 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 757 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Postbac Cert.
|
32 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| University of North Alabama (UNA) |
Master's
|
22 | Florence, Alabama | Public | una.edu |
| University of Washington (UW Tacoma) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Tacoma, Washington | Public | tacoma.uw.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Other Award
|
21 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| California State University (CSUSB) |
Master's
|
20 | San Bernardino, California | Public | csusb.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Superior, Wisconsin | Public | uwsuper.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
19 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Danbury, Connecticut | Public | wcsu.edu |
| El Paso Community College (EPCC) |
Associate's
|
19 | El Paso, Texas | Public | epcc.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
15 | Tifton, Georgia | Public | abac.edu |
| Goucher College |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | goucher.edu |
| Denison University (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Granville, Ohio | Private | denison.edu |
| Champlain College |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Burlington, Vermont | Private | champlain.edu |
| The University of Tampa (UTampa) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Tampa, Florida | Private | ut.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Marquette University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Postbac Cert.
|
12 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | umb.edu |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges (HWS) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Geneva, New York | Private | hws.edu |
| Texas Christian University (TCU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | tcu.edu |
| Utah Tech University (UT) |
Other Award
|
12 | Saint George, Utah | Public | utahtech.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
11 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | umdearborn.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
11 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| Mississippi College (MC) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Clinton, Mississippi | Private | mc.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Other Award
|
10 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Drake University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Des Moines, Iowa | Private | drake.edu |
| Drury University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Springfield, Missouri | Private | drury.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| George Fox University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Newberg, Oregon | Private | georgefox.edu |
| Saint Edward's University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Austin, Texas | Private | stedwards.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAH) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Huntsville, Alabama | Public | uah.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
| North Central College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Naperville, Illinois | Private | northcentralcollege.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Flint, Michigan | Public | umflint.edu |
| SUNY Buffalo State University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Buffalo, New York | Public | suny.buffalostate.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| Eastern Illinois University (EIU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Charleston, Illinois | Public | eiu.edu |
| Aquinas College (AQ) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | aquinas.edu |
| Houghton University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Houghton, New York | Private | houghton.edu |
| High Point University (HPU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | High Point, North Carolina | Private | highpoint.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Other Award
|
5 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) |
Master's
|
5 | Portland, Oregon | Private | willamette.edu |
| La Roche University (LRU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | laroche.edu |
| Marywood University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Private | marywood.edu |
| Charleston Southern University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Charleston, South Carolina | Private | charlestonsouthern.edu |
| Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | San Diego, California | Private | pointloma.edu |
| Millikin University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Decatur, Illinois | Private | millikin.edu |
| Simmons University |
Master's
|
4 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | simmons.edu |
| SUNY |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Fredonia, New York | Public | fredonia.edu |
| Queens University of Charlotte |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Private | queens.edu |
| University of Akron |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
4 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Heidelberg University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Tiffin, Ohio | Private | heidelberg.edu |
| Geneva College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania | Private | geneva.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Other Award
|
3 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Central Arkansas (UCA) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Conway, Arkansas | Public | uca.edu |
| Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Private | obu.edu |
| Covenant College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Lookout Mountain, Georgia | Private | covenant.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Indiana University (IUSE) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | New Albany, Indiana | Public | ius.edu |
| Dordt University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Sioux Center, Iowa | Private | dordt.edu |
| Calvin University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | calvin.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Blue Mountain Christian University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Blue Mountain, Mississippi | Private | bmc.edu |
| Kean University |
Master's
|
3 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
| Cayuga County Community College |
Associate's
|
3 | Auburn, New York | Public | cayuga-cc.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| Keuka College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Keuka Park, New York | Private | keuka.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Other Award
|
3 | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| The University of Findlay (UF) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Findlay, Ohio | Private | findlay.edu |
| Temple University |
Other Award
|
3 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| University of North Texas at Dallas (UNT Dallas) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Dallas, Texas | Public | untdallas.edu |
| California State University |
Master's
|
2 | Turlock, California | Public | csustan.edu |
| California State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Bethany College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Lindsborg, Kansas | Private | bethanylb.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Other Award
|
2 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Campbell University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Buies Creek, North Carolina | Private | campbell.edu |
| Bennington College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Bennington, Vermont | Private | bennington.edu |
| Vermont State University (VTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Randolph, Vermont | Public | vermontstate.edu |
| Randolph-Macon College (RMC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Ashland, Virginia | Private | rmc.edu |
| Lakeland University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Plymouth, Wisconsin | Private | lakeland.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| Spring Hill College (SHC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Mobile, Alabama | Private | shc.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Master's
|
1 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Bourbonnais, Illinois | Private | olivet.edu |
| University of Evansville (UE) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Evansville, Indiana | Private | evansville.edu |
| Goshen College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Goshen, Indiana | Private | goshen.edu |
| Indiana University (IUN) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Gary, Indiana | Public | iun.edu |
| Indiana University (IUE) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Richmond, Indiana | Public | iue.edu |
| Northern Kentucky University (NKU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Public | nku.edu |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms (Elms College) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Chicopee, Massachusetts | Private | elms.edu |
| Delta College |
Other Award
|
1 | University Center, Michigan | Public | delta.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Master's
|
1 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Public | umsl.edu |
| Carroll College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Helena, Montana | Private | carroll.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Writing programs
How much can I earn with a Writing degree?
Salaries for Writing graduates vary by role and location. Technical Writers earn a median of $91,670 annually, while Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn around $78,490. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $95,032 compared to $54,182 in Arkansas. Approximately 415,090 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Writing programs?
Currently 108 accredited institutions offer Writing degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include The University of Texas, Austin (34 graduates), Grand Valley State University (GVSU) (33 graduates), and University of Iowa (32 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Writing growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 920 in 2010 to a peak of 948 in 2020, before declining slightly to 765 in 2023-24. This represents a 17% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Writing degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Technical Writers, Postsecondary Teachers, All Other, and English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 415,090 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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