English Language and Literature at The University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin's English program manages to deliver stronger outcomes than most English degrees despite starting modestly—one-year earnings of $34,739 jump to $48,118 by year four, a 39% increase that suggests graduates successfully navigate into professional roles. While the program ranks around the 60th percentile among Texas English programs (with schools like UH-Clear Lake posting significantly higher early earnings), this ranking undersells the trajectory: UT grads start near the national 76th percentile and accelerate from there.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $21,500, matching the state median and coming in well below the national benchmark. That 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than eight months of their first-year salary—manageable territory for a humanities degree. The real question is whether your student plans to leverage UT's strong alumni network and internship opportunities that appear to drive that year-four earnings jump, or whether they'll struggle to translate an English degree into career momentum.

For families comfortable with a moderate initial salary in exchange for growth potential and minimal debt burden, this works—especially given UT Austin's prestige and doors it can open. But if your student needs higher immediate earnings or lacks clear post-graduation plans, those programs posting $40,000+ starting salaries deserve consideration, even if they're at less prominent institutions.