English Language and Literature at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

UW-Green Bay's English program delivers earnings that should quiet many concerns about liberal arts degrees. At $40,812 in the first year, graduates earn 36% more than the national median for English majors and nearly $6,200 above Wisconsin's state median. This places the program in the 95th percentile nationally—meaning it outperforms 19 out of 20 comparable programs across the country. The $25,000 median debt translates to a manageable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio, significantly better than many humanities programs where debt can exceed annual income.

Within Wisconsin, UW-Green Bay holds its own in the middle tier of the state's English programs, though it trails system flagships like Eau Claire and La Crosse by a few thousand dollars. The 60th percentile state ranking reflects strong regional competition rather than program weakness. Earnings do grow modestly to $42,430 by year four—a pattern typical of fields where graduates often pursue additional credentials or shift into higher-paying sectors like corporate communications or technical writing.

For families worried about the "starving artist" narrative, this data tells a different story. Your child would enter the workforce with reasonable debt and earnings that exceed most entry-level positions, even in business fields. The strong national standing suggests the program effectively prepares graduates for careers beyond teaching—likely in writing, editing, and communication roles where employers value critical thinking over specific technical skills.