English Language and Literature at University of Northern Colorado

University of Northern Colorado's English program produces outcomes that sit squarely in the middle nationally but trail behind several Colorado alternatives. Graduates earn $30,689 in their first year—about $600 less than the state median—and while that grows to $37,706 by year four, they're starting from a lower baseline than peers at Metropolitan State, UC Denver, or even Colorado Springs. Among Colorado's 17 English programs, this ranks in just the 40th percentile for earnings, meaning six out of ten comparable programs deliver better results.

The financial picture isn't alarming, though. With $24,557 in debt and a 0.80 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates face manageable repayment relative to their income—roughly on par with national norms for English majors. The 23% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates do find their footing professionally, even if they don't catch up to peers from other Colorado schools. For context, this is a program where outcomes align closely with what you'd find at a typical state university across the country.

If your student is set on English and UNC specifically, the debt load won't sink them. But if they're weighing Colorado options, programs like Metropolitan State ($35,487) or UC Denver ($35,364) deliver noticeably better starting salaries for similar debt—a $4,000-5,000 annual difference that compounds over a career. Location flexibility within Colorado could meaningfully improve the return on this degree.