English Language and Literature/Letters at Rowan University

Rowan University's English program achieves something rare: it nearly doubles the typical national outcome for English majors. With first-year earnings of $40,921 versus a national median of just $24,239, graduates here are earning in the 95th percentile nationally. The debt burden of $24,950 translates to a 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio—manageable compared to many humanities programs where graduates struggle under heavier loads relative to lower starting salaries. Earnings also grow steadily, reaching $46,392 by year four.

The New Jersey context is harder to assess since Rowan appears to be the only school in the state reporting data for this program, making it both the median and the comparison point. Still, the fundamentals work in this program's favor: students are leaving with reasonable debt and earning enough to service it comfortably. For an English degree at a school with a 78% admission rate, these outcomes are notably strong.

For parents weighing this investment, the key question is whether their student plans to leverage the degree strategically—perhaps in education, communications, or technical writing roles that value strong writing skills. The earnings trajectory suggests graduates are finding viable career paths, not just survival jobs. If your child is committed to studying English, this program delivers substantially better financial outcomes than most alternatives.