Bachelor's · Lexington, Virginia

Is English Language and Literature, General at Virginia Military Institute worth it?

Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 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 7.9 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $48,086; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: Not enough graduates to report; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $24,877; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $66k (likely $66k – $71k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $11k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in VA; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 7.9 years (likely 4.2–20+); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: −$135k (likely −$228k – −$25k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: −$19k (likely −$201k – $202k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 72%; Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

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 Virginia Military Institute

Computer Science (Bachelor's)$94,397
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's)$76,991
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's)$76,909
Economics (Bachelor's)$76,296
Psychology, General (Bachelor's)$75,059
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's)$74,740
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services (Bachelor's)$73,971
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's)$72,700
History (Bachelor's)$72,630
Biology, General (Bachelor's)$71,547
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)$48,395

English Language and Literature, General at other schools in Virginia

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University$64,225
University of Richmond$58,014
William & Mary$57,616
James Madison University$57,487
George Mason University$56,071
University of Virginia-Main Campus$55,412
Christopher Newport University$55,379
Longwood University$51,485
Old Dominion University$49,024
Randolph-Macon College$47,804