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English & Literature · English Rank #293 of 493

Englishat Cornell University

Graduates earn $33,270/yr in their first year — about 9.0% above the national English average. Base-case 10-year earnings $657K; scenarios range from $575K to $682K depending on AI disruption.

Ithaca, NY Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
28 AT RISK
28
Optimistic
21
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,270
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.7x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$657K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
63% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Cornell University

Your Cornell English degree, steeped in the university's rigorous academic tradition, opens doors far beyond the common perceptions of the humanities. The academic intensity and the powerful alumni network mean employers value the exceptional critical thinking, analytical depth, and sophisticated communication skills you cultivate. While direct paths like teaching and editing are popular, many graduates successfully pivot into fields such as marketing, content strategy, tech communications, or even consulting, leveraging their unique ability to analyze complex information and articulate compelling narratives.

The noted AI risk primarily applies to the most routine textual tasks. Your true value, however, lies in higher-order interpretation, creative problem-solving, and persuasive writing—skills AI cannot replicate. To maximize your post-graduation options, actively seek internships that apply your analytical talents in commercial or professional settings, demonstrating how your literary expertise translates into tangible value for employers beyond academia.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$575K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score21/100
Earnings Multiple2.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$657K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score28/100
Earnings Multiple2.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$682K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score28/100
Earnings Multiple2.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cornell University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where English graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
0.0% 10-yr growth · 5,100 openings/yr
$78,270/yr
High
2
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
3
Proofreaders and copy markers
-0.6% 10-yr growth · 1,900 openings/yr
$49,210/yr
Very High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering English

How Cornell University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Georgetown University
DC · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Top score
University of Houston-Clear Lake
TX · Public
56
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
17.4x
ROI
Monmouth University
NJ · Private nonprofit
37
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
2.2x
ROI
Brown University
RI · Private nonprofit
33
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
1.0x
ROI
Northeastern University
MA · Private nonprofit
33
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
1.1x
ROI
Also at Cornell University

Other top programs at Cornell University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cornell University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in English offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare English trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about English at Cornell University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for English at Cornell University?

A score of 28/100 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 $574,874 in decade earnings vs $682,212 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Cornell University a hidden gem for English?

After financial aid, the average student pays $129,348 over four years — 51% below the $264,056 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.