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English at Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,486/yr (23% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)

Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)

ROI 13.2x earnings multiple (8.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #79 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to English graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$451K	$457K	$436K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.0x	13.2x	12.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.9x	8.0x	7.7x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	41%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	37	37	29

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$34,700

Out-of-state: $56,876 (8.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,384

-71% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,860

8.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$40,184

7% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,486 at Austin Peay State University come in 23% above the national median of $30,427 for English programs.

The 13.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 61% task exposure — and the 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,860 debt-to-$37,486 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #79 out of 493 programs, Austin Peay State University's English program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $37,486 to $40,184 over five years (7% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 7,365 students in Clarksville, TN. With 46% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Austin Peay State University →

Top Career Paths

English language and literature teachers, postsecondary $78,270/yr

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580/yr

Proofreaders and copy markers $49,210/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

English at Other Schools

Other Majors at Austin Peay State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Austin Peay State University's English program score?

This program scores 37/100 — on the lower end for English. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is English to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' English careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 61% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does Austin Peay State University rank so high for English?

The #79 ranking out of 493 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →