English Language and Literature at University of Colorado Boulder

CU Boulder's English program costs less to attend than most alternatives—graduates carry just $19,522 in debt compared to the state median of $24,500—but that advantage comes with a notable earnings tradeoff. At $31,825 in the first year, graduates earn slightly above the national and state medians for English majors (both around $30,000), placing this program squarely at the 60th percentile. However, they lag several thousand dollars behind peers at Metropolitan State Denver and UC Denver, both of which deliver first-year earnings above $35,000.

The financial picture improves moderately over time, with earnings climbing 18% to $37,557 by year four. The lower debt load means graduates face a manageable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning they owe less than eight months of their starting salary. For context, many English programs saddle students with debt exceeding their entire first year's income.

Here's the reality: this isn't a standout program among Colorado's English options, but it won't burden your child with crushing debt either. If they're set on CU Boulder for the campus experience or other academic reasons, the English degree won't derail their finances. But if earnings potential is the priority and they're flexible on location, Metropolitan State or UC Denver offer meaningfully higher starting salaries for similar or lower debt.