English Language and Literature at University of Denver

The University of Denver's English program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground: tuition-level costs without flagship-level outcomes. With first-year earnings of $30,246, graduates earn slightly less than the Colorado median ($31,257) and barely edge out the national average, landing in just the 40th percentile among Colorado's 17 English programs. That's particularly striking given DU's selective profile (SAT 1344) and $25,678 median debt—graduates from less selective schools like Colorado Mesa and CU-Colorado Springs are seeing earnings $3,000-5,000 higher.

The 10% earnings growth to $33,246 by year four shows steady progression, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85 is manageable. But here's the reality: graduates of Metropolitan State and CU-Denver—schools with significantly lower barriers to entry—are earning 17% more from day one. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty, but the pattern suggests DU's premium pricing isn't translating to premium career outcomes for English majors.

If your child is passionate about English at DU, they need a clear plan for leveraging the university's Denver location and alumni network to break into higher-paying sectors. Otherwise, Colorado's public universities offer a stronger value proposition for this particular degree.