English Language and Literature at University of Louisiana at Monroe

First-year earnings of $20,834 place ULM's English program at the bottom nationally—5th percentile—though it's closer to average among Louisiana programs. That state context matters: while this trails top state options like Southeastern Louisiana ($31,136) by more than $10,000 annually, it's actually middle-of-the-pack for Louisiana English degrees, where the state median sits at $24,355. The concerning issue isn't just Louisiana's position relative to the nation, but whether these specific earnings justify even the relatively modest $19,873 debt load.

That debt amount is below both state and national medians, which helps, but a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.95 means graduates are borrowing nearly a full year's salary. Living independently on less than $21,000 while making loan payments will be extremely difficult. For comparison, Louisiana State's English graduates earn similar amounts but with the support of a flagship university's alumni network and reputation.

The small sample size here is critical—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a few outliers could skew these numbers significantly in either direction. If your student is set on this program, they should investigate whether graduates pursue teaching credentials or graduate school, which could explain the low initial earnings. Otherwise, consider whether the same degree from Southeastern Louisiana or UL Lafayette, with their substantially higher graduate earnings, might open more doors.