English Language and Literature/Letters at Bard College

Bard College's English program produces troubling outcomes that should concern any parent considering the $70,000+ annual price tag. With first-year earnings of just $17,237—nearly half the state median of $32,944—graduates earn less than what many full-time minimum wage workers take home. Among New York's seven English programs, this ranks near the bottom (10th percentile), and it's worse still nationally, landing in just the 5th percentile.

The debt load of $26,861, while close to the national average, becomes a crushing burden when paired with such low earnings. That 1.56 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe more than 18 months of their salary, making loan repayment extremely difficult. For context, graduates from Empire State University's English program earn nearly three times as much ($48,651) their first year out. The moderate sample size suggests these results aren't statistical noise—this is the actual trajectory for Bard English graduates.

Unless your child has significant financial resources or plans for immediate graduate school (which would add more debt), this program represents a very risky investment. The prestigious Bard name doesn't translate into market outcomes for English majors, at least not in the crucial first year when loan payments begin.