English Language and Literature, General at University of South Carolina - Aiken
SC · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 23.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a English Language and Literature, General degree from University of South Carolina - Aiken earn a median salary of $42,371 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in SC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $44,507. The degree typically pays for itself in 25.8 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$35,823
Typical Career
$42,371
Top Performers
$50,647
Estimated break-even: 25.8 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$282
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,531. Most students can comfortably afford about a $282 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in South Carolina buys what costs $0.95 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Public Administration.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$44,507
Nominal: $42,371 in South Carolina (COL 95.2% of national avg) · 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 | $24,011 | $30,248 | $36,427 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $35,823 | $42,371 | $50,647 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $36,019 | $47,315 | $60,738 |
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 $42,371 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in SC, which has a cost-of-living index of 95.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $42,371 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9520)
= $44,507 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (24.6%), Educational Services (20.4%), and Public Administration (7.6%). Given the estimated break-even point of approximately 25.8 years compared to a high school-only path, the return on investment for this degree may take considerable time to realize. However, the diverse career options available in these sectors suggest that graduates can find meaningful employment, albeit with a longer timeline for financial payoff.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the English Language and Literature, General degree at University of South Carolina - Aiken stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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.