English Language and Literature, General at Columbus State University
GA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 23.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a English Language and Literature, General degree from Columbus State University earn a median salary of $47,510 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in GA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $52,497. The degree typically pays for itself in 13.9 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$34,222
Typical Career
$47,510
Top Performers
$57,503
Estimated break-even: 13.9 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$317
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,959. Most students can comfortably afford about a $317 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Georgia buys what costs $0.91 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Finance & Insurance.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$52,497
Nominal: $47,510 in Georgia (COL 90.5% of national avg) · 10.5% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $22,128 | $30,000 | $38,818 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $34,222 | $47,510 | $57,503 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $46,521 | $58,897 | $69,622 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $47,510 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in GA, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.5% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $47,510 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9050)
= $52,497 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries for graduates include Educational Services (21.5%), Health Care & Social Assistance (21.3%), and Finance & Insurance (11.6%). With an estimated break-even point of approximately 13.9 years compared to a high school-only path, the return on investment for this degree can be considered moderate. Graduates may find stable career opportunities, particularly in education and healthcare, but should weigh the time required to recoup educational costs against potential earnings.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.