HUMANITIES
+2.0%Liberal Arts
A broad foundation across writing, history, social science, and the arts, a flexible entry point into graduate school, business, or public service.
HUMANITIES
English
Salary data, career paths, top colleges, and every specialization, all sourced from College Scorecard, IPEDS, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About English
Wondering whether English is worth studying? What matters is what graduates actually earn, where they end up working, and which colleges produce the most of them. Most graduates end up in this field, so it is worth knowing what Technical Writers earn and how the role is projected to grow.
Writing, rhetoric, and literary analysis. Preparation for journalism, publishing, law, and any career where clear communication is your competitive edge. Four years after finishing the degree, graduates in this field earn a national median of $48,590, per College Scorecard. You can study it at 1,684 colleges and universities across the country, so location is rarely the limiting factor. About 50,299 students complete a degree in this area every year.
- Median Earnings · 1yr
- $29,657
- Median Earnings · 4yr
- $48,590
- Colleges Offering
- 1,684
- Graduates / Year
- 50,299
- Specializations
- 4
- Avg Net Price / yr
- $18,535
Is an English Degree Right for You?
$48,590
Median earnings · 4yr
+0.8%
10yr job growth
4
Specializations
Is the Investment Worth It?
Breaks even in
~4
yrs
vs $30K/yr baseline wage
Solid ROI. Median earnings of $48,590 after 4 years. Against an estimated $74,140 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 4.0 years.
ROI varies significantly by specialization and institution. A top program in a high-demand specialization can return many multiples of its cost. A lower-tier program in a saturated field may take a decade to break even. Use the Specializations and Best Colleges sections above to compare your specific options before deciding.
How Much Do English Majors Earn?
Pay for English graduates climbs fast in the first few years out. The median start is $29,657 one year after graduation, rising to $48,590 by year four, so the early salary is not the ceiling. Source: College Scorecard, across all 1,684 US institutions offering programs in this field.
$29,657
1 Year After Graduation
Median at the institutional level. Entry-level salaries; reflects career start, not peak earnings.
$48,590
4-Year National Median
Enrollment-weighted national median across all institutions. Most graduates have 2-3 years of career experience at this point.
$48,460
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size. Closer to what a typical school's graduates earn.
Earnings Range Across Specializations
Not all English specializations pay the same. The most lucrative programs pay $48,590/yr nationally, while the lowest-earning specializations average $46,173/yr. See the Specializations section below for a program-by-program breakdown.
$46,173
Lowest
$48,590
Median
$48,590
Highest
What Can You Do With an English Degree?
Career Paths for English Graduates
Studying English does not lock you into one job title. It opens 5 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from entry-level roles to senior ones, and Technical Writers pays the most among them at a median $90,390 a year. Each row below adds national wages, employment levels, and the 10-year growth outlook so you can weigh the rest.
Another common path leads to what English Language and Literature Teachers typically earn and how the field is trending.
Technical Writers
Bachelor's degree
$90,390
↗ +0.8% growth
English Language and Literature Teachers
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,760
↗ +0.0% growth
Editor
Bachelor's degree
$77,920
↘ -1.1% growth
Writer & Author
Bachelor's degree
$76,910
↘ -0.3% growth
Secondary School Teacher
Bachelor's degree
$72,040
↘ -0.2% growth
English Specializations
English spans 4 specializations, and the choice among them will not swing your paycheck much: four-year earnings run from $46,173 to $48,590 across the whole group. Each row links to a full program profile with institution counts and annual completion data. Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying specialization is the cost and outcomes for an English program, which is worth a closer look before settling on the broader field.
Specialization
Colleges
Grads/yr
Earnings · 4yr
Best Colleges for English
These are the 20 colleges that graduate the most students in English, ranked by how many completed the degree in the most recent reporting year, not by selectivity or prestige. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate for each one come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.
By that measure, the list starts with the cost and admissions data for Southern New Hampshire University.
1
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH · Nonprofit
Acceptance
99.5%
Net price/yr
$36,708
Earnings 10yr
$50,318
Grad rate
30%
2
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL · Public
Acceptance
40.1%
Net price/yr
$10,411
Earnings 10yr
$58,308
Grad rate
55%
3
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
4%
Net price/yr
$21,590
Earnings 10yr
$102,491
Grad rate
79%
4
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL · Public
Acceptance
24.2%
Net price/yr
$11,297
Earnings 10yr
$61,675
Grad rate
78%
5
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
Acceptance
46.3%
Net price/yr
$10,440
Earnings 10yr
$64,403
Grad rate
78%
6
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public
Acceptance
83.6%
Net price/yr
$22,531
Earnings 10yr
$64,762
Grad rate
66%
7
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public
Acceptance
11%
Net price/yr
$13,481
Earnings 10yr
$92,446
Grad rate
74%
8
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · Public
Acceptance
79.8%
Net price/yr
$16,778
Earnings 10yr
$69,020
Grad rate
75%
9
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
99%
Net price/yr
$29,357
Earnings 10yr
$44,813
Grad rate
34%
10
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA · Public
Acceptance
90.4%
Net price/yr
$14,638
Earnings 10yr
$54,914
Grad rate
49%
11
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
Acceptance
9%
Net price/yr
$12,548
Earnings 10yr
$82,511
Grad rate
82%
12
University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA · Public
Acceptance
76.4%
Net price/yr
$14,304
Earnings 10yr
$67,699
Grad rate
63%
13
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZ · Public
Acceptance
89.9%
Net price/yr
$14,967
Earnings 10yr
$62,668
Grad rate
59%
14
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX · Public
Acceptance
89.3%
Net price/yr
$16,805
Earnings 10yr
$56,906
Grad rate
60%
15
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · Public
Acceptance
58.1%
Net price/yr
$30,434
Earnings 10yr
$66,125
Grad rate
71%
16
Florida International University
Miami, FL · Public
Acceptance
54.7%
Net price/yr
$9,288
Earnings 10yr
$60,249
Grad rate
54%
17
New York University
New York, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
9.2%
Net price/yr
$37,050
Earnings 10yr
$82,509
Grad rate
76%
18
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · Public
Acceptance
93.5%
Net price/yr
$7,021
Earnings 10yr
$59,115
Grad rate
64%
19
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public
Acceptance
93.3%
Net price/yr
$21,193
Earnings 10yr
$62,569
Grad rate
66%
20
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · Public
Acceptance
26.6%
Net price/yr
$19,857
Earnings 10yr
$75,121
Grad rate
81%
Ranked by number of English graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →
How English Compares to Similar Majors
Major
$30k
$40k
$50k
$60k
$70k
$80k
$90k
$100k
Plan Your Path
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an English degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if an English degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
English Degree: Pros & Cons
Weigh the financial trade-offs in English carefully before committing to it. The 2 strengths and 2 concerns below come from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts, so you can see exactly what is driving the caution.
PROS
- Wide availability Offered at 1,684 colleges nationwide, including community colleges and online programs.
- Strong salary growth Median salary grows from $29,657 at graduation to $48,590 four years later, indicating solid career momentum.
CONS
- Modest median earnings Four-year median of $48,590 lags behind many STEM and business fields, which can affect ROI at higher-cost programs.
- Declining roles in some areas 3 related careers within this field show negative 10-year employment projections per BLS. Research specific roles carefully before committing.
English Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do English graduates earn?
$48,590 a year four years after finishing the degree. That is the national median, so half of graduates earn more and half earn less, and specialization, institution, and region move the number a lot. Use the specializations table on this page to see which tracks pay above and below it. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for an English degree?
About $29,657 in the first year out, at the institutional level. That is an early number, not a ceiling, and it moves with employer, location, and which specialization within English you picked. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with an English degree?
More than one path, so the degree does not lock you into a single title. Technical Writers pays the most among related roles, at a median $90,390 a year nationally, but it is one option among several. See the Career Paths section on this page for the full list with employment levels and 10-year growth projections. Source: BLS.
How many colleges offer English?
1,684 colleges and universities in the United States, so location is rarely the limiting factor. Options run from community colleges offering associate degrees to research universities with doctoral programs, so the harder choice is which type of school fits, not whether one is nearby. The Best Colleges section on this page ranks the top institutions by graduation volume. Source: IPEDS.
Is an English degree worth it?
For most students, yes, though the margin depends on which specialization and school you pick. Median 4-year earnings run $48,590 against an average net price of roughly $18,535 a year across institutions that offer this major, and high-earning specializations widen that gap considerably. Compare your specific program before assuming the average applies to you.
How long does it take to earn an English degree?
Four years for a bachelor's degree in English at the normal full-time pace, or two years for an associate version at a community college. Part-time or online study stretches that timeline out, and transfer credits can shorten it.
What skills do employers look for in English graduates?
Employers hiring English graduates consistently prioritize writing, critical analysis, research, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information and communicate clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles.
What is the 10-year job outlook for English graduates?
Outlook is mixed, with some roles shrinking: related occupations project an average of -0.2% growth over the next decade. Technical Writers leads the group at +0.8%. Demand still swings by specialization, employer sector, and region, so treat this as a starting point rather than a guarantee. Source: BLS.
Related Findings
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Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
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- Engineering tech
- Engineering
- Program earnings
- Applied degree
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-
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
- STEM earnings
- Engineering pay
- Computer science
- Program earnings
- Major choice
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Careers
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