English at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
28 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
28
Optimistic
28
Base Case
24
Pessimistic
Earnings $27,549/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 10.0x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #280 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs

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 $518K $514K $476K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.0x 10.0x 9.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.8x 3.8x 3.5x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 28 28 24

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,584
Out-of-state: $135,004 (3.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$81,328
-58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
8.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,320
72% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $27,549/yr, roughly in line with the $30,427 national median for English. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

At 10.0x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 61% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,500 debt-to-$27,549 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #280 out of 493 programs, Colorado State University-Fort Collins's financial outcomes for English trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $27,549 to $47,320 over five years (72% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State University-Fort Collins accepts 90% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 25,148 students in Fort Collins, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado State University-Fort Collins →

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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Colorado State University-Fort Collins's English program score?
This program scores 28/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →