English Language and Literature at Stevenson University

At $26,478 in estimated debt against first-year earnings near $35,000, Stevenson's English program appears to align with what similar Maryland humanities programs typically produce—a manageable debt load relative to initial income. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 suggests graduates from comparable programs could theoretically repay their loans within a few years if they prioritize debt reduction, though that calculation doesn't account for living expenses or career progression.

The estimated earnings figure matches Maryland's median for English programs exactly, putting it in the middle of the state's range. Programs at nearby Maryland institutions with reported data show earnings clustering tightly between $35,000 and $39,000, with flagship University of Maryland-College Park at $36,561. What matters more than these small differences is what students do with the degree—teaching certifications, technical writing portfolios, or graduate school plans can dramatically shift outcomes in either direction.

The challenge here is uncertainty. Because Stevenson's actual outcomes aren't publicly available due to small sample sizes, you're essentially betting that their results mirror the state average rather than falling below it. If your child is passionate about English and has a concrete plan for leveraging the degree (whether that's law school, publishing connections, or content strategy), the manageable debt picture makes this workable. Without that plan, even modest debt becomes harder to justify.