English Language and Literature at Flagler College

That first-year salary of $21,236 should catch your attention—it places Flagler's English program in the bottom 5% nationally and the bottom quarter statewide, well below Florida's median of $26,917 for English majors. While earnings do recover significantly by year four ($38,696), that initial struggle matters: your child will be managing $26,051 in debt on a salary that barely covers basic expenses in a tourist town like St. Augustine. Compare this to English graduates from University of South Florida or UCF, who start around $30,000—nearly 50% higher.

The 82% earnings growth sounds impressive until you realize it's mostly climbing out of an unusually deep hole. Even after four years, graduates are only modestly ahead of where typical English majors start elsewhere. The debt load itself isn't outrageous for a private college, but coupled with those weak initial earnings, you're looking at real financial strain during those crucial first years when young adults establish themselves. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty—these numbers could swing considerably with just a few data points.

If your child is set on English at a Florida private college, this program trails significantly behind state university alternatives that cost less and launch graduates into better-paying positions. You'd need compelling reasons beyond the numbers to justify the choice.