English Language and Literature at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia

Saint Joseph's English program performs right in the middle of Pennsylvania's offerings, landing at the 60th percentile statewide—solidly ahead of the typical PA English grad who earns about $30,000, though nowhere near Penn's $41,000. What stands out is the earnings trajectory: graduates start at $31,266 but jump to over $50,000 by year four, a 61% increase that suggests they're finding their footing in the job market. The debt load of $27,000 is manageable, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86 that beats many humanities programs where debt often exceeds first-year income.

The catch here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in the data set. These numbers could shift with more data, so they're better viewed as directional rather than definitive. Still, the pattern looks reasonable for an English degree: modest starting salary that climbs as graduates build experience and pivot into communications, editing, nonprofit work, or other fields where writing skills command higher pay.

If your child is genuinely drawn to studying literature and isn't expecting immediate high earnings, this represents a middle-ground option—not Penn's network and outcomes, but respectable growth potential without crushing debt. The real question is whether they have a plan for translating an English degree into a career, since that year-four earnings bump suggests those who do figure it out see real payoff.