Literature at University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg

The $23,868 starting salary at Pitt-Greensburg looks modest, but Literature majors here see something unusual: their earnings nearly double by year four, reaching $43,091. That 81% growth rate stands out in a field not known for dramatic salary progression, and it pushes this program into the 60th percentile among Pennsylvania's Literature programs—a solid showing given the state's larger, more visible campuses show identical starting salaries.

The debt picture offers rare good news for humanities: at $27,000, graduates here carry less than three-quarters of what the typical Pennsylvania borrower owes, ranking in the 25th percentile nationally. That relatively light load matters when your first-year salary barely covers living expenses. The 1.13 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable once that year-four income kicks in, though families should brace for a financially tight first year or two out of college.

Here's what makes this work: the near-universal admission rate and 38% Pell population suggest Pitt-Greensburg serves practical-minded students who likely pursue career-focused paths after graduation—teaching certificates, professional programs, or graduate school—rather than treating Literature as purely academic. If your child has a clear plan for translating their degree into employment (not just passion for books), the combination of below-average debt and above-average mid-career earnings creates breathing room that most Literature programs can't match.