English Language and Literature at Seattle Pacific University

Seattle Pacific's English program produces modest outcomes that lag behind most Washington alternatives, despite charging more than public universities. While graduates start around $30,700—slightly below the state median of $31,600—they carry $25,700 in debt, which is notably higher than the typical $21,400 for Washington English majors. This 40th percentile ranking among Washington programs is particularly meaningful here: students are paying private school prices for below-average in-state results, when stronger alternatives like Gonzaga ($41,000) or even Western Washington ($32,300) exist.

The 15% earnings growth to $35,300 by year four shows some upward movement, but that still trails most competitors. The 0.84 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't disastrous—it suggests manageable loan payments—but that calculation assumes full-time work in your field, which English majors don't always achieve immediately. With a 91% admission rate, this isn't a selective program offering unique networking advantages that might justify the cost gap.

The real caution here: these numbers reflect fewer than 30 graduates, so individual results vary widely. If your child is set on Seattle Pacific for reasons beyond pure ROI—say, campus culture or specific faculty connections—the financial picture isn't catastrophic. But purely as an English degree investment, Washington's public universities deliver comparable or better earnings with substantially less debt.