English at Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
31 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
32
Optimistic
31
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,317/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 8.8x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #219 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 graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $524K $519K $479K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.9x 8.8x 8.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.4x 5.4x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 32 31 26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,064
Out-of-state: $96,504 (5.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$56,636
4% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,125
8.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,803
59% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $31,317/yr, English graduates from Montclair State University land near the $30,427 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

At 8.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 61% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,125 debt-to-$31,317 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #219 out of 493 programs, Montclair State University's English offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $31,317 to $49,803 over five years (59% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Montclair State University

With 87% of applicants admitted, Montclair State University prioritizes broad access, serving 17,677 students in Montclair, NJ. With 44% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Montclair 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 Montclair 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

How does Montclair State University's English program score?
This program scores 31/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →