English Language and Literature at Benedictine College

Benedictine's English program lands solidly in the middle of the pack, ranking 60th percentile among Kansas schools and 62nd nationally—not exceptional, but respectable for a liberal arts degree. First-year earnings of $32,214 edge out both the state and national medians, though graduates from Washburn University earn about $4,400 more. The standout here is the debt load: at $27,000, it's remarkably low—just 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of English programs nationwide leave students with more debt.

That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84 is quite manageable for a humanities degree. Students are borrowing less than a year's salary, which puts them in a better position to handle loan payments than most English majors nationally. The caveat is that these numbers come from a small sample (under 30 graduates), so individual outcomes could vary more than usual.

For parents weighing this program, the key tradeoff is clear: your child won't be the highest-earning English graduate in Kansas, but they'll likely graduate with less debt than peers at comparable schools. That conservative borrowing matters more than many families realize—it's the difference between financial stress and breathing room in those crucial early career years. If your student is genuinely passionate about literature and you're looking for reasonable debt, this program delivers on that practical promise.