English Language and Literature at Clayton State University

Clayton State's English program shows weak initial outcomes but dramatic improvement over time—though the small sample size means these numbers could shift significantly with more graduates. That first-year median of $22,874 lands in the 11th percentile nationally, substantially below both the national median ($29,967) and Georgia's median ($26,308). However, by year four, earnings jump to $41,200, an 80% increase that actually surpasses the state's top programs.

The debt load of $22,638 is manageable relative to that fourth-year earning power, but that first year creates real financial strain—the debt nearly equals the initial salary. Among Georgia's English programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile, meaning it's middle-of-the-pack within the state despite the weak national showing. Given Clayton State's mission serving a majority Pell Grant student body, the accessibility matters, but families need eyes wide open about those first couple of years.

If your child can weather the initial low earnings—through family support, living at home, or supplemental work—the trajectory improves considerably. But with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these figures may not be reliable predictors. For a family without cushion for those lean early years, the higher-earning Georgia options like University of North Georgia or Georgia Southern would be safer bets.