English Language and Literature at Oberlin College

At $19,734 in first-year earnings, Oberlin's English program produces outcomes that fall dramatically short of what families should expect from a selective liberal arts college. This ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for English degrees—meaning 95% of comparable programs deliver better returns. Even within Ohio, where several strong English programs exist (Wright State graduates earn $33,011; University of Cincinnati grads earn nearly $31,000), Oberlin lands at the 25th percentile.

The $26,000 debt load isn't unusually high for an English major, but paired with earnings well below $20,000, graduates face an immediate financial squeeze. That 1.32 debt-to-earnings ratio means first-year income barely covers the debt, leaving little room for living expenses in what should be early career building years. For context, graduates from The College of Wooster—another Ohio liberal arts school—earn 56% more in their first year out.

Something appears structurally wrong here. Oberlin's 33% admission rate and 1440 average SAT suggest a highly capable student body, yet outcomes lag behind less selective institutions. Whether this reflects program structure, career services, or graduates pursuing unpaid opportunities isn't clear from the data, but the financial reality is stark: this represents a concerning investment when multiple Ohio schools demonstrate that English majors can achieve significantly better early earnings.