Compare 106 English Language and Literature, General. programs in the West. Average earnings: $39,361.
With top graduates earning $64,019, English Language and Literature, General. stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $25K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Santa Clara University's English program leads with graduates earning $64,019, significantly above the $39,361 average across 106 Western programs. The University of San Francisco ($57,848) and Loyola Marymount ($56,111) round out the top three, demonstrating that specialized programs can deliver strong outcomes regardless of overall institutional rankings.
Highest program earnings: $64,019
Strong outcomes ($57,848) with 51% acceptance
5.9% payment burden | Excellent
12.4% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $64,019 | 34 | $19,162 | Excellent | $56,271 | High |
| #2 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | $57,848 | 28 | $23,000 | Good | $44,413 | High |
| #3 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | $56,111 | 61 | $19,500 | Excellent | $58,361 | High |
| #4 | University Of The PacificPrivate | $53,852 | 14 | $19,500 | Good | $50,438 | High |
| #5 | $53,207 | 50 | $13,540 | Excellent | $12,700 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $52,942 | 236 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Challenging | |
| #7 | $52,432 | 341 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $52,346 | 61 | $16,600 | Excellent | $9,000 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $52,278 | 163 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Manageable | |
| #10 | Gonzaga UniversityPrivate | $52,197 | 39 | $24,454 | Good | $37,652 | High |
| #11 | University Of PortlandPrivate | $50,756 | 18 | $21,370 | Good | $57,555 | High |
| #12 | $50,644 | 56 | $18,500 | Good | $35,000 | High | |
| #13 | Sonoma State UniversityPublic | $49,487 | 80 | $16,705 | Good | $27,986 | Challenging |
| #14 | University Of Puget SoundPrivate | $48,162 | 14 | $25,000 | Manageable | $52,058 | High |
| #15 | $47,267 | 34 | $18,000 | Good | $31,803 | High | |
| #16 | $47,151 | 89 | $17,350 | Good | $18,031 | Challenging | |
| #17 | $47,123 | 16 | $23,691 | Manageable | $58,000 | High | |
| #18 | University Of RedlandsPrivate | $47,072 | 25 | $26,000 | Manageable | $28,208 | High |
| #19 | Whitworth UniversityPrivate | $47,054 | 16 | $25,000 | Manageable | $35,875 | High |
| #20 | $47,012 | 118 | $14,615 | Good | $24,883 | Challenging | |
| #21 | $46,511 | 199 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | Challenging | |
| #22 | $46,505 | 200 | $13,993 | Good | $26,465 | High | |
| #23 | $46,309 | 89 | $15,000 | Good | $20,820 | Challenging | |
| #24 | $46,055 | 35 | $20,500 | Good | $21,716 | High | |
| #25 | $45,975 | 97 | $15,000 | Good | $25,565 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
