English Language and Literature at Nazareth University

Nazareth's English program stands out in a crowded New York market, placing in the 80th percentile for earnings among the state's 83 English programs. First-year graduates earn $36,200—nearly $8,000 more than the typical English grad in New York and over $6,000 above the national median. The $27,000 median debt is actually below both state and national averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 that's quite manageable for a humanities degree. Earnings growth of 13% by year four suggests graduates are finding their footing professionally, though they're still well behind elite competitors like Colgate ($48,008) and Barnard ($40,414).

The catch here is sample size—fewer than 30 recent graduates means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. Still, the consistency of outperforming state and national benchmarks is noteworthy. For families concerned about the financial viability of an English degree, this data suggests Nazareth provides better-than-average preparation and outcomes, particularly when you consider graduates are carrying less debt than peers elsewhere. The program won't produce the earning power of top-tier liberal arts colleges, but it appears to deliver solid value in a practical sense: graduates can comfortably service their loans while building careers in education, publishing, communications, or other fields that value strong writing and critical thinking skills.