Bachelor's · Portland, Oregon

Is English Language and Literature, General at Portland State University worth it?

High confidence High confidence: 100+ graduates behind the earnings figures.

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

Pays back slowly: graduates typically recover the cost in about 8.3 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $38,125; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $46,555; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $15,971; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $35k (likely $35k – $47k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $7k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in OR; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 8.3 years (likely 6.0–14.6); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: −$147k (likely −$209k – −$104k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: −$40k (likely −$150k – $63k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 53%; 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 / ≤ 10%; 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 Portland State University

Computer Science (Master's)$145,715
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Master's)$139,274
Materials Engineering (Master's)$125,486
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's)$123,281
Real Estate (Master's)$117,821
Computer Science (Bachelor's)$113,889
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's)$113,459
Electrical and Computer Engineering (Master's)$112,888
Mechanical Engineering (Master's)$107,077
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)$101,905
Public Administration (Master's)$99,801
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)$96,791

English Language and Literature, General at other schools in Oregon

Willamette University$50,060
Southern Oregon University$49,706
University of Portland$49,434
University of Oregon$47,639
Oregon State University$42,541
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus$42,541
Lewis & Clark College$39,705
Corban University$36,779