Bachelor's · North Adams, Massachusetts

Is English Language and Literature, General at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts worth it?

Medium confidence Medium confidence: 40–99 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Graduates typically don't earn back the cost within 20 years, compared with the no-degree baseline.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $34,225; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $42,917; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: Not enough borrowers to report; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $48k (likely $48k – $64k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: −$769 a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in MA; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: Not within 20 years in most scenarios; Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: −$256k (likely −$317k – −$207k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: −$230k (likely −$341k – −$120k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 47%; Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Borrowers making progress / in default, 2 years in: not reported / ≤ 20%; NSLDS AY2016-17, AY2017-18 pooled cohorts measured in 2018-19, 2019-20

Change income, residency or loans Compare English Language and Literature, General at other schools

🎬 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward media & storytelling majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

AP English Language and Composition
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Seminar

IB Higher Level

Language A: Literature HL or Language and Literature HL
Film HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)$87,671
Education, General (Master's)$60,664
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's)$53,753
Biology, General (Bachelor's)$52,808
Psychology, General (Bachelor's)$49,826
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's)$47,162
Sociology (Bachelor's)$44,136
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (Bachelor's)$42,983
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (Bachelor's)$39,413
History (Bachelor's)$32,418
Visual and Performing Arts, General (Bachelor's)$32,340

English Language and Literature, General at other schools in Massachusetts

College of the Holy Cross$74,214
Boston College$70,141
Tufts University$69,475
Williams College$69,065
Northeastern University$67,877
Northeastern University Professional Programs$67,877
Amherst College$65,195
Brandeis University$62,291
Assumption University$62,073
Stonehill College$60,131