English Language and Literature at University of Richmond

Richmond's English program starts strong—graduates earn $38,333 in their first year, placing them in the 92nd percentile nationally and well above the $29,967 national median. That's impressive for a humanities degree. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could swing significantly with just a few data points, and there's a troubling pattern: by year four, earnings drop to $34,036, an 11% decline when most careers see growth.

Within Virginia, this program sits at the 60th percentile—solid but not exceptional. It trails William & Mary ($40,697), Longwood ($40,167), and UVA ($40,092) in graduate earnings. The $22,980 median debt is manageable, below both state and national averages, giving graduates a 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio that's workable even if those early earnings don't hold. Richmond's selectivity (23% admission rate, 1474 SAT) suggests strong networking opportunities that may explain the initially high earnings.

The earnings decline is the wildcard here. It could reflect career transitions common among English majors or simply statistical noise from the tiny sample. For a family comfortable with humanities education and Richmond's substantial cost, the low debt and strong starting salary offer reasonable footing. But if you're banking on steady financial growth, the data suggests caution—this program doesn't show the upward trajectory you'd want to see.