Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $43,362 put College of the Holy Cross's English program 43% above the national median of $30,427 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
The financial case is thin at 2.9x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in English's typical career paths, with 61% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 17% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $43,362 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #21 of 493 nationally, this is a top-5% English program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $81,948 show a 89% jump from the $43,362 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.