English Language and Literature at Eastern Michigan University

Eastern Michigan's English program starts graduates at just $25,412—about $3,500 below Michigan's median for English majors and more than $4,500 below the national benchmark. Among Michigan's 32 English programs, this ranks exactly in the middle at the 40th percentile, but trailing significantly behind nearby competitors like Grand Valley ($39,334) and Wayne State ($35,549). The program does show strong earnings growth of 44% by year four, reaching $36,652, though graduates still begin their careers well behind peers from other state schools.

The debt picture adds complexity: at $31,000, graduates carry about $4,000 more than Michigan's median for English programs and $6,500 above the national benchmark. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.22—meaning graduates owe more than their entire first year's salary. For comparison, that first-year income is roughly equivalent to $12-13 per hour full-time, making those loan payments particularly challenging in the early years.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift considerably year to year, but the pattern suggests caution. If your child is committed to English, the stronger outcomes at Grand Valley or Wayne State would justify serious consideration, especially given the $10,000-14,000 earnings advantage those programs show even in the first year post-graduation.