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English & Literature · English Rank #417 of 493

Englishat Furman University

Graduates earn $16,583/yr in their first year — about 45.0% below the national English average. Base-case 10-year earnings $368K; scenarios range from $374K to $349K depending on AI disruption.

Greenville, SC Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
22 AT RISK
23
Optimistic
20
Pessimistic
Earnings
$16,583
1-year post-graduation
ROI
-0.3x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$368K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
63% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Furman University

An English degree from a respected liberal arts institution like Furman cultivates exceptional critical thinking, writing, and communication abilities. However, the initial career paths for many English graduates, particularly in fields like education, non-profit work, or local media in the Greenville area, often have more modest starting salaries compared to other majors or regions. Your education here is foundational, emphasizing broad intellectual development over direct vocational training for specific high-paying entry roles. Many graduates leverage these skills in local school districts, smaller regional businesses needing strong communicators, or pursue further graduate studies to specialize. To maximize your post-graduation earnings, actively seek internships that apply your communication skills to business, marketing, or technical writing roles, or intentionally pair your English studies with a minor or certification in a more career-focused field.

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
$374K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score20/100
Earnings Multiple1.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$368K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score22/100
Earnings Multiple1.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$349K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score23/100
Earnings Multiple1.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Furman 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 Furman 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 Furman University

Other top programs at Furman University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Furman 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 Furman University

How does Furman University's English program score?

This program scores 22/100 — 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.

Why are English earnings lower at Furman University?

Lower starting pay at Furman University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.