English Language and Literature at The University of Alabama

Alabama's English program starts graduates at just $25,000—well below both the state median of $33,000 and the national average of $30,000. Among Alabama's 25 English programs, this ranks in the bottom quarter, trailing in-state alternatives like Athens State ($41,000) and South Alabama ($40,000) by nearly $15,000. That's a significant earnings gap at an institution where relatively few students qualify for Pell grants, suggesting this isn't primarily serving students who lack other options.

The saving grace is momentum: earnings jump 48% by year four to $37,000, which is respectable growth for a humanities degree. The debt load of $22,250 is actually lighter than state and national norms, keeping the program from being an outright financial liability. But even with this growth trajectory, graduates still earn less at the four-year mark than Athens State grads make right out of college.

For families weighing this program, the question is whether Alabama's brand and campus experience justify starting $8,000 behind peers at other state schools. If your student is set on Alabama for other reasons, the manageable debt and solid earnings growth make this workable. But purely as an English degree investment, stronger in-state options exist at similar price points.