English Language and Literature at Wayne State University

Wayne State's English program starts strong with $35,549 in first-year earnings—ranking in the 79th percentile nationally and beating the state median by over $6,600. However, this promising beginning tells only part of the story. By year four, median earnings drop to $27,648, a 22% decline that leaves graduates earning less than Michigan's overall median for English majors. Only Grand Valley State and the University of Michigan campuses perform better in the state.

The financial picture isn't catastrophic—at $27,000, debt here matches the state median and sits in the 5th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of English programs saddle students with more debt). The 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio against first-year income is manageable. But that steep earnings decline matters. Whether it reflects graduates transitioning to grad school, moving into lower-paying but mission-driven work, or struggling to advance in their careers, it's a pattern your child needs to anticipate and plan for.

For families considering Wayne State, this program works best if your child has a clear post-graduation strategy—whether that's leveraging Detroit's lower cost of living, pursuing graduate education, or using the English degree as a stepping stone to another field. The relatively affordable debt load provides flexibility, but banking on that $35,000 starting salary to persist would be unwise.