English Language and Literature at Gordon College

Gordon College graduates with English degrees earn significantly more than their peers nationally, but the story gets more complicated when you look at Massachusetts specifically. The $36,462 starting salary beats 83% of English programs nationwide—a genuinely strong showing. However, that drops to the 60th percentile among Massachusetts schools, where English majors at top programs like Northeastern start above $49,000. You're essentially paying for above-average national outcomes in a state where above-average is table stakes.

The financial structure itself looks manageable: $27,000 in debt against first-year earnings creates a 0.74 ratio, which most financial advisors would consider reasonable territory. The debt burden here ranks in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of English programs saddle students with more. Earnings growth to $41,458 by year four shows steady if unspectacular progression—a 14% bump that at least trends in the right direction.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift considerably with a different cohort. For families who can afford Gordon's private school tuition without excessive borrowing, this represents a solid liberal arts outcome. But if you're choosing between this and a comparable program at UMass or another public option, run the actual cost comparison carefully—the earnings premium over state schools isn't dramatic enough to justify paying significantly more out of pocket.