English Language and Literature at Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University's English certificate graduates earn $31,087 in their first year—landing in the 95th percentile nationally for this credential. That's $6,000 above the typical English certificate holder and even exceeds the 75th percentile benchmark. The program also delivers nearly 10% earnings growth over four years, reaching $33,932, which is unusual momentum for certificate-level humanities credentials that often plateau quickly.

The trade-off is debt. At $18,712, graduates carry more than double the national median for English certificates, though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 remains reasonable. With only two Arizona schools offering this credential, meaningful in-state comparisons are limited, but NAU sits right at the state median for both earnings and debt. The key question is whether the premium results justify premium borrowing—and here, the national performance suggests they might.

For families considering this path, the 95th percentile earnings outcome is hard to dismiss, especially at an accessible institution where 30% of students receive Pell grants. The higher debt deserves attention, but if your student can keep borrowing near this median level, they're getting a certificate that actually delivers competitive earnings rather than the typical sub-$25,000 outcomes common in this field.