English Language and Literature, General at Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
30
Optimistic
30
Base Case
25
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,927/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 8.4x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #239 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to English Language and Literature, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $546K $539K $493K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.5x 8.4x 7.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.1x 3.1x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 30 25

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$63,952
Out-of-state: $173,488 (3.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$83,004
-30% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,966
10.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,627
78% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,927 track close to the $30,427 national median for English Language and Literature, General programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in English Language and Literature, General's typical career paths, with 61% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,966 represents roughly 10 months of the $28,927 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #239 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs, Michigan State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $51,627 show a 78% jump from the $28,927 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Michigan State University

Michigan State University has a 84% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 40,243 students enrolled in East Lansing, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Michigan 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 Language and Literature, General at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for English Language and Literature, General at Michigan State University?
A score of 30/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for English Language and Literature, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace English Language and Literature, General careers?
With 61% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $492,660 in decade earnings vs $545,835 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →