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English at Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $35,838/yr (18% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)

Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)

ROI 2.4x earnings multiple

Ranked #220 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs Top 50%

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	$700K	$672K	$585K
Earnings Multiple	2.5x	2.4x	2.1x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	41%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	31	31	24

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$276,180

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$80,592

71% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

8.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$74,155

107% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $35,838/yr, edging above the $30,427 national average for English — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The financial case is thin at 2.4x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $35,838 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #220 of 493 English programs, Columbia University in the City of New York scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $74,155 show a 107% jump from the $35,838 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Columbia University in the City of New York

Columbia University in the City of New York admits 4% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, enrolling 8,899 students in New York, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $80,592 over four years — 71% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbia University in the City of New York →

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 University in the City of New York

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for English at Columbia University in the City of New York?

A score of 31/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for English. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

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 $585,355 in decade earnings vs $699,596 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Columbia University in the City of New York a hidden gem for English?

After financial aid, the average student pays $80,592 over four years — 71% below the $276,180 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

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