English at East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
21
Optimistic
21
Base Case
18
Pessimistic
Earnings
$21,836/yr (-28% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market
Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI
11.1x earnings multiple (8.0x 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 | $436K | $443K | $426K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 10.9x | 11.1x | 10.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 7.9x | 8.0x | 7.7x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 41% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 21 | 21 | 18 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,800
Out-of-state: $55,160 (8.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,022
9.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$33,670
54% growth from Year 1
About East Tennessee State University
With 87% of applicants admitted, East Tennessee State University prioritizes broad access, serving 9,807 students in Johnson City, TN.
See all programs and financial aid at East Tennessee State University →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 East Tennessee State University
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 East Tennessee State University?
A score of 21/100 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 $426,253 in decade earnings vs $435,681 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with English from East Tennessee State University?
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 →