English Language and Literature at Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud State's English program shows graduates earning $28,145 in their first year—slightly below both the state median ($29,444) and national average ($29,967). More concerning, it sits near the 40th percentile among Minnesota English programs, falling well behind peers like UMN-Duluth ($35,118) and even Metropolitan State ($33,999). The $21,482 in median debt is actually lower than typical for the program, though it still represents nearly 77 cents of debt for every dollar earned in year one.

The bright spot here is earnings growth: graduates see a 40% increase by year four, reaching $39,290. That trajectory outpaces many English programs and suggests the degree provides transferable skills that gain value with experience. However, with fewer than 30 graduates in this data, these numbers could swing significantly with a different cohort—they're more of a directional signal than a guarantee.

For parents, this comes down to debt management. If your student can minimize borrowing through scholarships or in-state tuition (where Saint Cloud's 95% admission rate works in your favor), the long-term earnings trajectory makes this viable. But families planning to borrow heavily should look hard at those higher-performing Minnesota alternatives, where graduates start $5,000-7,000 ahead annually—a gap that compounds over time.