English Language and Literature at State University of New York at Plattsburgh

SUNY Plattsburgh's English program produces earnings that land right in the middle of New York State's range—40th percentile—but well below the national average for English majors. With first-year earnings around $25,000 and manageable debt of $21,000, graduates face roughly a year's salary in loans, which is better than the typical English program nationally. However, that initial salary is about $5,000 less than what English majors earn statewide and nearly $5,000 below the national median.

The encouraging part is consistent growth: earnings jump 29% to $32,300 by year four, narrowing the gap with peer programs. The debt load, while lower than average, still represents a meaningful financial burden at entry-level wages. For context, top New York programs like Colgate and Barnard produce nearly double the earnings, though they serve different student populations.

The critical caveat here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset—which means a few outliers could skew these figures significantly. For a family weighing this investment, the question is whether the SUNY price point and North Country location align with career plans that can leverage English skills into better-paying fields. The numbers suggest this program serves students well enough within the SUNY system, but wouldn't be a compelling choice if similar costs were available at higher-earning campuses downstate.