English Language and Literature at Whitworth University

Whitworth's English program significantly outperforms typical outcomes for humanities majors, but the limited data requires careful interpretation. With graduates earning $36,387 their first year—placing this program in the 83rd percentile nationally—Whitworth bests the national median for English majors by more than $6,000. That's a meaningful gap in a field where early earnings often hover below $30,000. Within Washington state, it trails only Gonzaga among the programs with available data, though it sits at just the 60th percentile statewide.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $24,642, translating to a 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable compared to many humanities programs. Earnings grow to $47,054 by year four—a 29% increase that suggests graduates gain traction in the job market rather than stalling out. However, these figures come from fewer than 30 graduates, meaning one or two high earners could skew the entire picture upward or a single cohort year could be unrepresentative.

For families comfortable with Whitworth's private school environment and willing to accept some data uncertainty, this program shows promise for an English degree. The combination of above-average starting pay and strong growth trajectory is rare in this field. Just understand you're making this decision with limited statistical backing—the true typical outcome might look somewhat different than these numbers suggest.