English Language and Literature at University at Buffalo

UB's English program sits in the bottom quartile both nationally (5th percentile) and among New York's 83 English programs (25th percentile), with first-year graduates earning just $21,208—roughly $8,000 below the state median and nearly $9,000 below the national average. While debt is manageable at $19,583 (lower than both state and national medians), that initial salary translates to difficult financial years right out of college. For context, this program earns less than half what English graduates make at Colgate or Barnard, and trails even mid-tier programs by $10,000+.

The silver lining is genuine: earnings jump 66% by year four, reaching $35,243. That's a faster growth trajectory than most English programs nationally, pulling UB's graduates closer to competitive territory. However, you're looking at three to four years of financial strain before reaching a still-modest salary. The low first-year earnings suggest many graduates are cobbling together entry-level jobs rather than landing positions that value their degree.

If your child is certain about English literature and committed to UB for other reasons (perhaps in-state tuition keeps total debt very low), the program's strong earnings growth offers hope. But from a pure investment standpoint, this ranks among the weaker English programs in a state with much stronger options. The moderate debt won't bury them, but those first years will be financially tight.