English Language and Literature at Florida International University

FIU's English program starts slow but shows something rare: meaningful earnings growth. That first-year figure of $27,037 is tough—below the national median but close to Florida's average. Yet four years out, graduates reach $38,074, a 41% jump that outpaces typical trajectories for English majors. Among Florida's 30 English programs, this lands at the 60th percentile, middle-of-the-pack within the state despite ranking only 32nd nationally.

The debt picture offers real breathing room. At $18,871, graduates owe roughly $6,000 less than the national median for English programs, translating to about $65 less per month in payments. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 means manageable repayment even during those leaner first years. For a school where 40% of students receive Pell grants, keeping debt this contained matters enormously.

Here's the calculation: if your child wants to study English and stay in Florida, this delivers comparable outcomes to costlier flagship options while limiting financial risk. The early earnings lag requires planning—expect a year or two of tight budgets or parental support—but the growth curve and low debt create a path forward that many humanities programs simply don't offer.