Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

English Language and Literature, General bachelor's degree outcomes at University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD · Public · Federal field 2301

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$17,435 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
83.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−153% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$31,155 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+66%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$26,957$44,704
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
28Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
25Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

67Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
27Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
46Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,067Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$31,155$4,912 below the preliminary benchmark

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$19,858

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$26,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$31,155

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$276/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →
AVERAGE NET PRICE$19,858Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$24,422Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE98.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE59.9%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$26,957Year 1
$31,155Year 4
$44,704Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

10.6% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$2,596
Estimated loan payment$276
25borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$31,155 vs. $48,590

$17,435 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$62,960 median wageSD estimate · 110 jobs · 25-1123+0.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeProofreaders and Copy Markers$51,120 median wageU.S. estimate · 4,580 jobs · 43-9081-0.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$51,050 median wageSD estimate · 3,360 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Brookings, SD

South Dakota State University

$19,180 higher earnings · $800 less debt · $17 lower annual net price

Earnings
$50,335
Debt
$25,200
Annual net price
$19,841
View outcomes →
Williamstown, MA

Williams College

$37,910 higher earnings · $12,875 less debt · $2,142 lower annual net price

Earnings
$69,065
Debt
$13,125
Annual net price
$17,716
View outcomes →
San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

$32,258 higher earnings · $2,044 less debt · $3,193 lower annual net price

Earnings
$63,413
Debt
$23,956
Annual net price
$16,665
View outcomes →
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University

$29,284 higher earnings · $12,580 less debt · $4,012 lower annual net price

Earnings
$60,439
Debt
$13,420
Annual net price
$15,846
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

28 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →