by our College Data Analytics TeamGeneral Writing was the 500th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 856 degrees in this year alone. This 92 less than the prior year, a decrease of 10.7%.
This year's Best General Writing Schools ranking compares 32 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom general writing rankings further below.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in general writing is communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific general writing careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of general writing degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in general writing to something that takes less time like a . The type of general writing degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to general writing, with approximately 46.2% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for general writing workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 42.9% |
| Doctoral Degree | 16.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 12.8% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 8.5% |
| Some College Courses | 7.7% |
Most workers in general writing have at least a bachelor's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in general writing have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which general writing career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your general writing degree? General Writing careers are expected to grow 7.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general writing.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Professors | 258,700 | 9.4% |
| Writers and Authors | 141,200 | 7.6% |
| Editors | 125,600 | -1.4% |
| English Language and Literature Professors | 92,900 | 9.8% |
| Technical Writers | 58,100 | 10.9% |
As you might expect, salaries for general writing graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for general writing graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers general writing grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Professors | $78,150 |
| Professors | $76,990 |
| Technical Writers | $75,500 |
| Writers and Authors | $73,090 |
| Editors | $69,480 |
With over 181 different general writing degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased general writing school rankings to help you with this.
One of 4 majors within the Writing Studies area of study, General Writing has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Creative Writing | 6,817 |
| Professional, Technical, Business, & Scientific Writing | 2,441 |
| Rhetoric & Composition | 1,871 |
| Other Rhetoric & Composition/Writing Studies | 544 |
