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English at Columbia College

Columbia, MO · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $24,240/yr (-20% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)

Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)

ROI 4.2x earnings multiple

Ranked #434 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	$390K	$404K	$399K
Earnings Multiple	4.0x	4.2x	4.1x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	41%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	20	20	17

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$97,304

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$96,204

1% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,023

12.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $24,240 per year, English graduates from Columbia College earn below the $30,427 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

An earnings multiple of 4.2x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in English's typical career paths, with 61% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a -2% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,023 against $24,240/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.1 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #434 of 493 English programs, Columbia College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Columbia College

serving 5,359 students in Columbia, MO. 44% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbia College →

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 Columbia College

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for English at Columbia College?

A score of 20/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for English. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Is English at Columbia College worth the student debt?

Median debt of $26,023 against $24,240/yr starting salary means roughly 1.1 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.

Will AI replace English careers?

With 61% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $399,000 in decade earnings vs $390,478 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with English from Columbia College?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

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