English Language and Literature at University of South Dakota

The small sample size here is important context, but the pattern is concerning: USD English graduates earn less than their counterparts at every other tracked program in South Dakota, landing in just the 25th percentile statewide. That $26,957 starting salary falls $9,000 below the South Dakota median for English degrees—a significant gap when choosing between in-state options like South Dakota State, where comparable graduates earn $37,000.

The 42% earnings growth to year four suggests graduates eventually find better footing, reaching $38,000, which actually exceeds state averages. However, that first year matters enormously for managing the $26,000 in debt. With a debt-to-earnings ratio near 1.0, new graduates face nearly a full year's salary in loans during the period when they're earning least. The admissions profile—99% acceptance rate and modest test scores—indicates this is an accessible program, but accessibility doesn't offset the financial reality that most English majors here start behind their in-state peers.

For families considering USD, the question is whether location or other factors justify accepting lower initial earnings than nearby alternatives. The eventual salary recovery is encouraging, but those early years set the tone for debt management and financial independence.