English Language and Literature at George Mason University

George Mason's English program starts modestly but demonstrates something most humanities programs struggle to deliver: meaningful earnings growth. While first-year graduates earn just over $33,000—which honestly isn't much—by year four that figure jumps to nearly $49,000. That 47% increase suggests graduates are finding their footing in the job market, whether through career progression, credential stacking, or pivoting into higher-paying adjacent fields. At the 60th percentile among Virginia English programs, Mason sits squarely in the middle of the pack statewide, trailing the elite programs at William & Mary and UVA by roughly $8,000 but outperforming the national typical graduate by nearly $19,000 at the four-year mark.

The $22,500 debt load is actually lighter than both state and national averages for English majors, making the 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio manageable despite that weak starting salary. An anxious parent might worry about that initial $33,000 figure, but the trajectory matters more here. By year four, graduates are earning double their debt, which puts them in decent shape compared to English majors elsewhere who often face both lower earnings and higher debt.

The bottom line: This isn't a path to quick financial returns, but Mason's English program appears to prepare students for careers that actually develop over time. The combination of below-average debt and above-average mid-career earnings makes this a reasonable bet for a student genuinely committed to the humanities, particularly given Mason's access to the DC metro job market.