Bachelor's · Houston, Texas

Is English Language and Literature, General at University of Houston worth it?

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

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

Pays back in time: graduates typically recover the cost in about 5.3 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $41,078; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $53,581; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $19,000; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $49k (likely $49k – $65k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $17k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in TX; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 5.3 years (likely 4.2–6.9); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: −$58k (likely −$120k – −$5k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: $166k (likely $43k – $289k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 66%; 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 University of Houston

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Master's)$138,873
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's)$138,841
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First professional)$137,021
Law (First professional)$135,984
Optometry (First professional)$129,383
Chemical Engineering (Master's)$125,334
Mechanical Engineering (Master's)$125,271
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's)$122,385
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral)$114,813
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Master's)$110,277
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's)$110,184
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)$107,399

English Language and Literature, General at other schools in Texas

Texas Christian University$64,885
University of Houston-Clear Lake$57,052
Texas A&M University-College Station$56,703
Austin College$56,362
Baylor University$54,367
The University of Texas at Austin$53,860
Lamar University$52,897
University of North Texas$52,576
St. Mary's University$51,014
Texas Tech University$50,849