English Language and Literature at Utah Valley University

Utah Valley University's English program lands in the middle of a challenging field—it beats national benchmarks but lags behind most Utah competitors. While graduates start at $31,492 (above the $30,000 national median), they fall well short of what Utah's top programs deliver. Utah Tech's English grads earn $42,110 their first year, and even the University of Utah manages $38,644. For an in-state student, that 40th percentile ranking within Utah is hard to ignore.

The saving grace here is debt: at $16,728, UVU keeps borrowing exceptionally low compared to the $24,529 national median for English degrees. That 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates finish with roughly six months' salary in debt—manageable by any standard. The 23% upward earnings trajectory by year four suggests the degree provides some career traction, though $38,592 still trails what many Utah programs deliver right out of the gate.

If cost containment matters more than maximizing early earnings, this program works. But families banking on Utah's typically strong outcomes for humanities majors should understand that UVU's English program underperforms the state average by about $1,700 annually. The low debt makes it financially survivable, though hardly a standout choice in a state with demonstrably stronger options.