English Language and Literature at Lebanon Valley College

Lebanon Valley College's English program places graduates in rare territory for humanities majors—matching earnings with University of Pennsylvania and Gettysburg College grads, despite operating at a fraction of their selectivity. At $40,151 in first-year earnings, this program ranks in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile among Pennsylvania's 76 English programs. The $27,000 median debt sits right at the state median but well below the typical liberal arts debt load, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio (0.67) that's manageable for a humanities degree.

The significant caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so a handful of exceptional outcomes could skew the picture. The 4% earnings decline between years one and four is also concerning—it suggests either job instability or that initial placement advantages don't hold. Still, even at the four-year mark ($38,386), graduates out-earn the typical English major by nearly $8,000 annually.

For families weighing this choice, the numbers suggest strong career services or alumni networks that help English majors land better-than-expected initial positions. Whether that advantage persists throughout careers remains unclear with this small sample. If your student is committed to studying English and you want better-than-average employment outcomes for the major, this program merits serious consideration—just recognize you're betting on a pattern that may or may not represent the typical graduate's experience.