Median Earnings (1yr)
$34,206
73rd percentile
40th percentile in Massachusetts
Median Debt
$27,000
10% above national median

Analysis

Assumption's English program shows exactly what you want from a humanities degree: manageable debt paired with meaningful earnings growth. At $27,000 in debt, graduates here borrow substantially less than the national average for English majors ($24,529) and finish in the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden—meaning 95% of comparable programs leave students with more loans. That first-year salary of $34,206 might look modest, but it jumps to $47,515 by year four, a 39% increase that suggests graduates are building marketable skills and finding career traction.

The Massachusetts context matters here. While Assumption graduates earn slightly below the state median for English programs initially, they're still performing in the 73rd percentile nationally—well above what most English majors earn elsewhere. Yes, elite schools like Northeastern and Williams push starting salaries near $50,000, but they also typically come with higher price tags. For a school with an 87% admission rate serving a broader student population, these outcomes represent solid execution.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79 means graduates owe less than one year's starting salary—a manageable position that gives them flexibility in their early career choices. If your child is committed to studying English, this program delivers what matters most: low debt and earnings that grow substantially as graduates establish themselves professionally.

Where Assumption University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all english language and literature bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Assumption University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Assumption University$34,206$47,515+39%
College of the Holy Cross$43,362$69,556+60%
Boston College$41,878$57,075+36%
Williams College$49,340$56,571+15%
Wellesley College$38,376$54,525+42%

Compare to Similar Programs in Massachusetts

English Language and Literature bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Massachusetts (49 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Assumption UniversityWorcester$49,414$34,206$47,515$27,0000.79
Northeastern University Professional ProgramsBoston—$49,639$48,771$27,0000.54
Northeastern UniversityBoston$63,141$49,639$48,771$27,0000.54
Williams CollegeWilliamstown$64,860$49,340$56,571$13,1250.27
Stonehill CollegeEaston$54,500$44,629$52,006$24,7370.55
College of the Holy CrossWorcester$60,850$43,362$69,556$27,0000.62
National Median—$29,967—$24,5290.82

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with english language and literature graduates

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Proofreaders and Copy Markers

Read transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Excludes workers whose primary duty is editing copy. Includes proofreaders of braille.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Assumption University, approximately 19% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 40 graduates with reported earnings and 61 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.