English Language and Literature at Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Wheaton's English program graduates earn notably less than other Massachusetts English majors—$40,583 four years out, placing them in just the 25th percentile statewide. That's $6,000 below the state median and nearly $10,000 less than what similar liberal arts colleges like Stonehill and Holy Cross produce. The debt burden of $26,748 is manageable in absolute terms, but when your graduate is earning under $30,000 in their first year, that 0.92 debt-to-earnings ratio means loan payments will take a real bite out of their early career budget.

The 39% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests graduates do find their footing eventually, climbing from $29,221 to above $40,000. But with a sample size under 30 graduates, these numbers might not be stable—a few graduates in high-paying fields could skew the average upward, or a few struggling grads could pull it down. What's clear is that within Massachusetts, where plenty of strong English programs compete for jobs at the same Boston publishing houses, nonprofits, and schools, Wheaton grads are starting from behind.

If your child is set on English at a Massachusetts liberal arts college, other options deliver significantly stronger earning outcomes without substantially more debt. Unless Wheaton offers specific programs or connections that justify the earnings gap, this investment looks weak compared to what's available in-state.