English Degree

493 schools compared · Average earnings $30,428/yr

Students study literary analysis, creative and academic writing, critical theory, and the rich tradition of English-language literature from medieval texts to contemporary works. Graduates typically pursue careers in publishing, content strategy, technical writing, marketing, education, and journalism, or continue to graduate school or law school. English majors develop exceptional communication and analytical skills that employers across industries consistently value.

What English Graduates Do

Your degree prepares you for a career centered on communication, but the day-to-day reality varies. You might find yourself guiding high schoolers through Shakespearean sonnets and grading hundreds of essays, a role defined by constant interpersonal engagement. Or, you could be in a university setting, leading seminar discussions on literary theory and conducting your own research for publication to secure tenure. A third common path involves meticulously checking manuscripts for grammatical consistency as a proofreader, collaborating with writers and editors on tight deadlines.

While teaching offers many openings, the overall job market for these roles faces headwinds with flat or declining growth. The most significant challenge, however, is artificial intelligence. With high AI exposure, these career paths are being fundamentally reshaped. Entry-level work, especially in proofreading and copy editing, is shrinking as AI handles first-draft tasks. Your future value will not be in spotting typos but in making complex judgments, architecting communication strategies, and critically evaluating AI-generated text. The jobs will demand a higher level of analytical skill from day one.

Schools Offering
493
Avg Grad Earnings
$30,428/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
30/100
AI Automation Risk
Very High
63% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where English graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 73,200 combined openings per year.

Career Path Salary Range Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$78,270
$60K$104K
5,100 0.0% 53%
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
$64,580
$58K$83K
66,200 -1.6% 33%
Proofreaders and copy markers
$49,210
$39K$62K
1,900 -0.6% 98%
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$78,270
$60K $104K
5,100 openings/yr 0.0% growth 53% AI risk
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
$64,580
$58K $83K
66,200 openings/yr -1.6% growth 33% AI risk
Proofreaders and copy markers
$49,210
$39K $62K
1,900 openings/yr -0.6% growth 98% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for English

Top 20 of 493 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

# School DW Score Earnings ROI
1 University of Houston-Clear Lake
Houston, TX
56
48–57
$50,876/yr 17.4x
2 Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX
48
40–49
$38,171/yr 15.3x
3 Binghamton University
Vestal, NY
46
39–46
$35,237/yr 13.7x
4 California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
46
39–46
$34,718/yr 13.5x
5 Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH
45
37–46
$45,157/yr 2.4x
6 Utah Tech University
Saint George, UT
45
37–45
$42,110/yr 15.7x
7 University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
45
38–46
$38,644/yr 13.2x
8 The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX
44
36–44
$40,718/yr 10.2x
9 University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA
44
36–45
$40,092/yr 6.8x
10 Towson University
Towson, MD
44
36–45
$39,250/yr 11.0x
11 University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls, WI
44
36–44
$37,586/yr 13.5x
12 University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD
44
37–45
$36,561/yr 11.7x
13 Georgetown University
Washington, DC
43
35–44
$52,122/yr 2.0x
14 Texas A & M University-Commerce
Commerce, TX
43
35–44
$43,470/yr 9.8x
15 University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA
43
35–44
$41,870/yr 11.1x
16 University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Green Bay, WI
43
35–44
$40,812/yr 12.6x
17 University of Maryland Global Campus
Adelphi, MD
43
36–44
$35,630/yr 14.8x
18 Weber State University
Ogden, UT
43
36–43
$34,224/yr 17.9x
19 Northeastern University Professional Programs
Boston, MA
42
34–43
$49,639/yr
20 College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA
42
34–43
$43,362/yr 2.4x

Highest Earning English Programs

Schools where English graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School 1-Year Earnings DW Score
Georgetown University $52,122/yr 43
University of Houston-Clear Lake $50,876/yr 56
Monmouth University $50,737/yr 37
Brown University $50,437/yr 33
Northeastern University Professional Programs $49,639/yr 42
Northeastern University $49,639/yr 33
Bowdoin College $49,421/yr 37
Williams College $49,340/yr 36
Seton Hall University $48,368/yr 35
Colgate University $48,008/yr 33

Best ROI for English

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for English.

School ROI Multiple Earnings DW Score
Florida Atlantic University 23.8x $23,264/yr 36
Clayton State University 21.7x $22,874/yr 35
Brigham Young University-Idaho 20.9x $28,025/yr 35
Florida State University 20.4x $29,534/yr 40
University of Florida 19.9x $26,917/yr 39
University of North Georgia 19.3x $35,733/yr 41
Brigham Young University 19.2x $29,305/yr 41
California State University-Stanislaus 19.2x $14,407/yr 38
Florida Gulf Coast University 18.9x $27,097/yr 37
Western Carolina University 18.8x $29,927/yr 35
Want to compare two English programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Consider the Trade Route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in English offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do English graduates earn?
Across 493 schools, English graduates earn an average of $30,428 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $7,780 to $52,122 depending on the school.
What is the AI automation risk for English?
English is rated "Very High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 63% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means most career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Which school has the best English program?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), University of Houston-Clear Lake ranks #1 for English with a score of 56/100 and graduate earnings of $50,876/yr.
What's the outlook for a English degree?
On average, English graduates earn 7.4x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a moderate return — school choice matters significantly.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →