English Language and Literature at Luther College

Luther College's English program reports first-year earnings of $38,490—dramatically outperforming the national median of $29,967 and landing in the 92nd percentile nationwide. That's impressive positioning for a liberal arts degree that often struggles in early-career earnings. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing considerably with just a few different outcomes, and the 60th percentile ranking among Iowa programs suggests the advantage looks less dramatic when compared locally.

The debt picture is unusually favorable: $27,000 is well below both national and state medians for English degrees, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 that's quite manageable. This is particularly noteworthy at a private liberal arts college, where debt loads typically run higher. The flat earnings trajectory from year one to year four does raise questions about career progression—Luther graduates aren't seeing the salary growth that would typically come with professional development.

For families considering this program, the key insight is that Luther appears to produce English graduates who find decent initial employment, without crushing debt. The skepticism: whether this reflects genuine program strength or just statistical noise from a small cohort. If your child is committed to English and values Luther's residential liberal arts experience, the economics aren't prohibitive—but they should have concrete post-graduation plans, since earnings growth appears minimal.