English at Iowa State University
Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
36
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings
$38,375/yr (26% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market
Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI
11.0x earnings multiple (4.2x 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 | $457K | $462K | $439K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 10.9x | 11.0x | 10.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.1x | 4.2x | 4.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 41% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 37 | 36 | 28 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$41,988
Out-of-state: $110,732 (4.2x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,599
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,391
8% growth from Year 1
About Iowa State University
Iowa State University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 25,033 students enrolled in Ames, IA.
See all programs and financial aid at Iowa 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 Iowa State University
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 Iowa State University?
A score of 36/100 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 $439,338 in decade earnings vs $457,386 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Iowa State University's English program stand out?
Ranked #93 of 493 programs nationally, Iowa State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →