English Language and Literature at St Lawrence University

St Lawrence's English program produces graduates who start modestly but gain momentum quickly. That first-year salary of $29,493 trails top New York programs like Colgate by a wide margin, but the 45% earnings jump by year four suggests graduates develop marketable skills that take time to monetize—perhaps through graduate school, career pivots, or establishing themselves in competitive fields like publishing or communications.

Among New York's 83 English programs, St Lawrence ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings, landing solidly in the middle tier despite its relatively selective admissions. The $26,000 debt burden is reasonable—below both state and national medians—which gives graduates breathing room during those leaner early years. The 0.88 debt-to-earnings ratio means you're not mortgaging a year's salary for that diploma, though that first year will still feel tight financially.

The key question is whether your child plans to leverage this degree into graduate work or a career that values strong writing and analytical skills over immediate earning power. If they're heading to law school, pursuing an MFA, or building a foundation for a communications career, this trajectory makes sense. If they need to start earning immediately after graduation with no additional schooling, that $29,493 starting point requires a hard conversation about budgeting and whether lower-cost alternatives might serve better.