English Language and Literature at Meredith College

Meredith College's English program manages to outperform both state and national expectations in what's typically a financially challenging field, with earnings of $35,619 placing it in the 80th percentile nationally. That's $5,600 above the national median for English majors and even edges out larger programs like UNC Charlotte and Wake Forest. The $26,500 debt load sits below the national average, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74—meaning graduates earn back their full debt burden in less than a year, which is manageable territory for a humanities degree.

The caveat here is meaningful: with fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort, these numbers could shift considerably year-to-year. A few high or low earners can dramatically affect the median in small programs. That said, the combination of relatively low debt and above-average earnings suggests Meredith is doing something right, whether that's strong career services, a tight-knit alumni network in the Raleigh area, or simply attracting motivated students (the 1224 average SAT and 75% admission rate indicate reasonable selectivity).

For families concerned about the practical value of an English degree, this program appears to thread the needle better than most. The earnings advantage over peer schools is real, and the debt burden won't leave your daughter financially hobbled. Just recognize that small sample sizes mean less certainty, and one year of data doesn't predict long-term career trajectories in a field where graduate degrees often factor into advancement.