English Language and Literature at Washburn University

Washburn's English program outperforms most comparable programs by a significant margin, with first-year earnings of $36,598 placing it in the 84th percentile nationally—well above the national median of $29,967. That's nearly $7,000 more than the typical English graduate earns, and slightly better than both Benedictine College and Kansas State within Kansas itself. The $23,000 median debt sits right at the state average, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 that most liberal arts programs would envy.

The earnings pattern here differs from many English programs: graduates see modest growth rather than decline, moving from $36,598 to $38,670 over four years. That 6% bump suggests graduates are finding stable employment rather than cycling through entry-level positions. Within Kansas, this program ranks in the 60th percentile—respectable middle-of-the-pack performance—but its national standing reveals the real story: Washburn appears to prepare English majors for practical careers better than most schools across the country.

The major caveat is sample size. With fewer than 30 graduates in the data, a few successful or struggling alumni can swing these numbers dramatically. Still, if your student is committed to English and considering Kansas schools, Washburn's combination of reasonable debt and above-average earnings makes it worth serious consideration—just recognize that individual outcomes may vary more than these medians suggest.