English Language and Literature at Appalachian State University

Appalachian State's English program starts graduates at just $23,397—roughly $6,500 below both the national and North Carolina medians for this major. That's bottom-quartile performance statewide, and the 13th percentile nationally means 87% of English programs across the country produce higher initial earnings. The debt load of $21,430 is manageable in absolute terms, but paired with those starting salaries, it creates a nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio that will feel heavy in those first years out of college.

The saving grace here is meaningful earnings growth: graduates see a 29% jump by year four, reaching $30,183. That catches them up to national and state averages, suggesting the program may develop skills that take time to monetize. Still, those early years matter—especially for loan repayment—and your child would be starting significantly behind peers at UNC-Charlotte ($32,021) or NC State ($32,694), both public alternatives with stronger immediate outcomes.

For families stretching to cover college costs, this program requires careful consideration. The math works better if your child can minimize borrowing or has a clear path to graduate fields where the English degree serves as foundation rather than endpoint. If they're set on this major and planning to work straight out of college, the stronger-performing NC public options deserve a close look first.