English Language and Literature at McDaniel College

McDaniel's English graduates start at $35,793—nearly $6,000 above the national median for English majors and holding steady with Maryland's state median. While this places them in the 80th percentile nationally, it's the 60th percentile within Maryland, which simply reflects how competitive the state's market is. They're earning about as much as Salisbury graduates but trailing Towson by roughly $3,500. The $22,250 in median debt translates to a manageable 0.62 ratio, meaning graduates owe less than eight months of their starting salary.

The trajectory shows solid improvement: earnings climb 16% to $41,561 by year four, suggesting these graduates are finding their footing professionally. That's meaningful growth for a humanities degree, where many worry about wage stagnation. The debt level sits slightly below Maryland's program median, giving graduates reasonable financial breathing room as they establish careers in education, communications, or other fields English majors typically enter.

The major caveat: fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort means these numbers could shift considerably year to year. But if this pattern holds, parents looking at McDaniel should see a program that costs less than many peers while delivering outcomes competitive with state universities. For a selective-but-accessible college (84% admission rate, 34% Pell students), these graduates appear to be launching reasonably well.