English at California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
39
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings
$29,638/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market
Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI
17.3x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)
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 | $542K | $536K | $490K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 17.5x | 17.3x | 15.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.9x | 6.8x | 6.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 41% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 39 | 39 | 34 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,956
Out-of-state: $78,476 (6.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,500
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,512
74% growth from Year 1
About California State University-San Marcos
California State University-San Marcos has a 96% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 14,174 in San Marcos, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 44% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.
See all programs and financial aid at California State University-San Marcos →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
Compare & Explore
English at Other Schools
Other Majors at California State University-San Marcos
Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does California State University-San Marcos's English program score?
This program scores 39/100 — 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 California State University-San Marcos rank so high for English?
The #52 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 →