English Language and Literature at Colorado Mesa University

Colorado Mesa's English program outperforms 70% of similar programs nationwide and 60% within Colorado—solid placement for a regional university charging roughly $9,000 less in tuition than flagship CU Boulder. The starting salary of $33,622 beats both the national and state medians, and graduates here earn more in their first year than CU Boulder English grads do four years out. With debt under $23,000, graduates face manageable repayment (67 cents of debt per dollar earned), though earnings growth over four years remains modest at 7%.

The catch: we're looking at a very small sample size here, under 30 graduates, which means these numbers could shift considerably year to year. That said, the pattern makes sense—Colorado Mesa serves a different market than the research universities in Denver and Boulder, likely producing graduates who stay in the Western Slope region where cost of living runs lower but so do typical liberal arts salaries.

For families considering this program, the value proposition comes down to fit and price. If your student wants to study English without shouldering $40,000+ in debt, Mesa delivers respectable outcomes at an accessible price point. Just recognize that English degrees everywhere trend toward modest earnings, and the small sample means you're placing some faith in this pattern holding steady.