English Language and Literature at Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern's English program graduates enter the workforce earning about $33,000—roughly $9,000 more than the typical English graduate in Georgia and above the national median as well. Among Georgia's 41 English programs, it ranks in the 60th percentile, trailing only Emory, University of North Georgia, and Spelman in the state. With steady 16% earnings growth to $38,000 by year four, graduates appear to find their footing in the workforce.

The debt picture is manageable at $23,250, slightly below both state and national medians. That creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71—meaning graduates owe less than one year's salary, which is reasonable territory for a humanities degree. The combination of lower-than-average debt and higher-than-average earnings gives this program a clearer value proposition than most English degrees.

The caveat here is sample size: fewer than 30 recent graduates reported earnings data, so individual circumstances could skew these numbers significantly. That said, for a regional university with a 90% acceptance rate, these outcomes suggest the program is doing something right. If your child is committed to studying English and wants to stay in Georgia, this program appears to offer solid value—just recognize the inherent career uncertainty that comes with any humanities degree.