English Language and Literature at Northeastern State University

Northeastern State's English program outperforms both state and national medians, placing graduates in the 60th percentile among Oklahoma schools and 68th percentile nationally—a solid showing for a degree often criticized for poor earnings. At $33,266 in the first year, graduates earn about $2,000 more than the state median and $3,300 above the national benchmark. The debt load of $24,250 translates to a manageable 0.73 ratio to first-year earnings, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in less than nine months of gross earnings.

The 6% earnings growth by year four is modest but steady, reaching $35,337. That's respectable longevity for a humanities degree, suggesting graduates find stable career paths rather than hitting an immediate ceiling. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly with just a few outliers—a high earner or two could be inflating the median.

For families concerned about ROI, this program threads the needle better than most English degrees. Your child would graduate with less debt than typical and earn more than peers at larger state schools like Oklahoma State or OU. Just understand you're betting on limited data, and the open admission policy means academic rigor varies widely among the student body.