English at James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
28
Optimistic
28
Base Case
24
Pessimistic
Earnings
$26,049/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market
Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI
9.8x earnings multiple (4.3x 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 | $538K | $532K | $488K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.9x | 9.8x | 9.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.4x | 4.3x | 4.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 41% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 28 | 28 | 24 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$54,304
Out-of-state: $123,160 (4.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,000
9.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,084
88% growth from Year 1
About James Madison University
A 76% acceptance rate means James Madison University is accessible to most applicants, one of the larger campuses at 20,497 students in Harrisonburg, VA.
See all programs and financial aid at James Madison 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 James Madison 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 James Madison 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 $487,977 in decade earnings vs $538,068 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →