English Language and Literature at Boston College

Boston College's English program significantly outperforms the national field—graduates earn $41,878 in their first year, placing them in the 95th percentile nationally and about $12,000 above the typical English major. The program also carries relatively modest debt at $18,832, which is about 30% lower than both national and Massachusetts medians for English degrees. However, within Massachusetts's competitive landscape, BC ranks closer to the 60th percentile, with several schools producing notably higher first-year earnings.

The 36% earnings growth from year one to year four is encouraging, pushing mid-career earnings to $57,075—a trajectory that suggests graduates are finding professional footing beyond entry-level positions. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, making the loans manageable even on a humanities graduate's income. BC's highly selective admissions (16% acceptance rate) likely contribute to these outcomes, as the school's network and reputation help English majors compete for opportunities that might otherwise favor business or STEM degrees.

For families concerned about the practicality of an English degree, this program demonstrates that institutional quality matters substantially. While it won't match the earnings of Northeastern's co-op-driven outcomes, BC graduates earn 40% more than the typical English major nationally while taking on significantly less debt—a combination that makes this one of the stronger investments in humanities education.