English Language and Literature at St. Joseph's University-New York

St. Joseph's University-New York's English program lands squarely in the middle of New York's crowded English degree market—ranking in the 60th percentile among the state's 83 programs—but the real story unfolds in the four years after graduation. While first-year earnings of $28,605 trail slightly behind even the state median, graduates see substantial income growth, reaching $42,181 by year four. That 48% earnings trajectory suggests graduates successfully transition into better-paying roles after those challenging first years, though they never reach the levels of elite programs like Colgate ($48,008) or Barnard ($40,414).

The debt picture is manageable at $23,125, sitting below both state and national medians for English degrees. That 0.81 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than a year's starting salary—a reasonable position for a humanities degree, particularly one that shows strong mid-term earning potential. The caveat here is sample size: with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, individual career outcomes could swing these numbers significantly.

For families seeking an English degree in New York without the elite price tag (St. Joseph's admits 71% of applicants compared to Colgate's selectivity), this program offers a practical middle ground. Just prepare for lean first years while your graduate builds toward that stronger four-year mark.