English Language and Literature at Northeastern University

Northeastern's English program commands unusual prestige in the job market, with first-year earnings of $49,639 placing graduates at the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile among Massachusetts schools—a striking premium for a humanities degree. That's $20,000 above the national English major median and roughly on par with graduates from elite liberal arts colleges like Williams and Amherst. The debt load of $27,000 is manageable relative to those first-year earnings, though the sample size here is quite small (under 30 graduates), so these numbers may not fully represent typical outcomes.

The stagnant earnings trajectory is worth noting—earnings actually dip slightly from year one to year four—but this matters less when the starting point is already this strong. What you're really paying for is Northeastern's co-op program and employer network, which appear to be opening doors that don't typically swing open for English majors. This is one of the few humanities programs where the employment outcomes rival professional degrees, likely because graduates are landing in communications, marketing, and corporate roles rather than traditional literary fields.

For families who can afford Northeastern's price tag, this represents a best-case scenario for an English degree. The debt-to-earnings ratio is healthy, and graduates start with salaries that many liberal arts majors won't see until mid-career. Just remember these numbers reflect a small group and may fluctuate year to year.