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English at Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
37 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
37
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,594/yr (20% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 10.1x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #69 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 $503K $502K $467K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.2x 10.1x 9.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.5x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 37 30

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$49,532
Out-of-state: $90,904 (5.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,200
-9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,820
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,631
33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $36,594 per year, English graduates from Northeastern Illinois University earn slightly above the $30,427 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 10.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 61% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $15,820 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #69 out of 493 programs, Northeastern Illinois University's English program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $36,594 to $48,631 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Northeastern Illinois University

With 70% of applicants admitted, Northeastern Illinois University prioritizes broad access, with a smaller student body of 3,869 in Chicago, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 54% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Northeastern Illinois 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

Compare this program → View all 493 schools offering English →

English at Other Schools

Georgetown University ($52,122) University of Houston-Clear Lake ($50,876) Monmouth University ($50,737) Brown University ($50,437) Northeastern University ($49,639) Northeastern University Professional Programs ($49,639) Bowdoin College ($49,421) Williams College ($49,340)

Other Majors at Northeastern Illinois University

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($63,615) Computer Science ($62,831) Accounting and Related Services ($50,475) Human Resources Management and Services ($49,131) Finance and Financial Management Services ($48,807) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($46,630) Business/Commerce, General ($45,015) Marketing ($43,320)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare English trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northeastern Illinois University's English program score?
This program scores 37/100 — 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.
Why does Northeastern Illinois University rank so high for English?
The #69 ranking out of 493 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →