English Language and Literature/Letters at California State University-Dominguez Hills

Cal State Dominguez Hills' English program graduates see their earnings jump 50% between year one and year four—from about $27,000 to nearly $40,000. That growth trajectory matters more than the modest starting salary, and the four-year mark puts these graduates ahead of 60% of English majors in California. While the first-year number sits just below $27,000, the program's graduates outpace both state and national medians, even outearning UC San Diego's English grads initially.

The debt picture looks particularly favorable. At under $13,000, graduates carry roughly half the typical burden for this degree in California and just a third of the national average. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, most graduates can realistically pay this off within a few years, even during that lower-earning first year. The school serves a predominantly working-class student body (61% receive Pell grants), making this relatively low debt especially significant.

The main caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual experiences may vary considerably. But for families concerned about the financial risks of a humanities degree, this program demonstrates you can study English without taking on crushing debt—and the earnings growth suggests graduates find their footing in the job market fairly quickly.