English Language and Literature at Trinity University

Trinity University's English program produces concerning outcomes despite the institution's selective admissions. With first-year earnings of just $25,216, graduates earn below three-quarters of English programs both nationally and across Texas, where the state median is $32,990. This gap is particularly striking given Trinity's 28% admission rate and average SAT of 1407—suggesting that institutional prestige isn't translating into better employment outcomes for English majors. Other selective Texas schools like SMU ($47,019) and St. Mary's ($39,752) demonstrate that private institutions can deliver stronger results for humanities graduates.

The debt load of $21,500 is manageable relative to earnings (0.85 ratio), matching the Texas median for English programs. However, these numbers come from a very small sample—under 30 graduates—which means individual employment circumstances could be skewing the data significantly. A few graduates pursuing low-paying internships or graduate school stipends could drag down the entire cohort's earnings.

For parents whose child is set on English at Trinity, the small sample size offers legitimate reason for hope that outcomes vary more than these numbers suggest. Still, it's worth asking whether Trinity's higher tuition compared to state schools justifies earnings that trail Texas public universities by $15,000-$18,000 in the first year. If your student is considering this program, they should connect with recent alumni directly to understand typical career paths beyond what this limited data reveals.