English Language and Literature at Hofstra University

Hofstra's English program stands out in a field often associated with challenging economics. At $35,637 in first-year earnings, graduates earn 26% more than the typical English graduate in New York and rank in the 80th percentile both statewide and nationally. This is noteworthy for a discipline where many programs struggle to reach $30,000 in initial earnings.

The debt picture is manageable at $24,485—essentially right at national and state medians for English programs. Combined with first-year earnings, this creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69, meaning graduates owe less than nine months of their initial salary. The 25% earnings growth by year four suggests decent career progression, reaching $44,369. While that's not competing with STEM fields, it's solid performance for a humanities degree, particularly near an expensive metro area.

For context, you're paying about what you'd pay elsewhere for English but getting meaningfully better outcomes than most alternatives. Hofstra's proximity to New York City likely helps with job access—publishing, communications, and corporate roles that value strong writing skills. If your child is committed to studying literature and wants to stay in the region, this represents a more financially viable path than most English programs offer.