English at Jacksonville State University

Jacksonville, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
35 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
36
Optimistic
35
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,774/yr (24% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 9.6x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #110 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs Top 25%

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 $475K $478K $450K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.6x 9.6x 9.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.2x 5.3x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 35 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)
$49,704
Out-of-state: $90,864 (5.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,400
-20% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,391
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,413
18% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $37,774/yr, edging above the $30,427 national average for English — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,391 represents roughly 7 months of the $37,774 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #110 of 493 nationally, this is a top-5% English program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $44,413 are relatively flat compared to the $37,774 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Jacksonville State University

Jacksonville State University has a 76% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 7,030 students in Jacksonville, AL. 43% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Jacksonville 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
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

English at Other Schools

Other Majors at Jacksonville State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for English at Jacksonville State University?
A score of 35/100 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 $450,188 in decade earnings vs $475,386 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Jacksonville State University's English program stand out?
Ranked #110 of 493 programs nationally, Jacksonville 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 →