English Language and Literature at University of Massachusetts-Amherst

UMass Amherst's English program shows a dramatic earnings trajectory that demands patience from families. Graduates start at just $24,521—about $10,000 below the Massachusetts median for English majors and in the bottom quarter statewide. The relatively modest debt load of $23,950 helps, but that first year still means managing nearly a year's salary in loans while living on entry-level wages.

The math changes substantially by year four, when median earnings more than double to $50,529. That's a 106% increase that vaults graduates well above both state and national benchmarks for the field. This suggests the program's graduates are successfully transitioning into careers where an English degree becomes genuinely valuable—perhaps in marketing, communications, or content strategy roles where initial positions pay poorly but experience commands better compensation.

For families who can absorb two or three lean years post-graduation, either through parental support or affordable living arrangements, this program ultimately delivers. The key question is whether your child has a financial runway to reach that year-four earnings level. If they'll need to start repaying loans immediately and cover their own rent in expensive Massachusetts metro areas, those early years could prove genuinely difficult despite the promising long-term outlook.