English & Literatureat Ohio University-Main Campus
Graduates earn $24,239/yr in their first year — about 16.0% below the national English & Literature average. Base-case 10-year earnings $400K; scenarios range from $393K to $388K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Ohio University
The data suggests this "other" English program, while valuable for intellectual growth, faces significant headwinds in the job market. The outcomes are largely shaped by a combination of factors: the more generalist nature of an "other" specialization, which can make direct career paths less obvious; the limited number of high-paying, degree-specific roles in the regional Athens job market, often requiring graduates to relocate or pivot; and the notoriously competitive landscape for academic positions like postsecondary teaching.
Furthermore, the very high AI risk indicates many general writing and analytical tasks are increasingly susceptible to automation, demanding more specialized skills from human graduates. If you pursue this path, actively build a portfolio showcasing practical applications of your critical thinking and communication. Strongly consider pairing your studies with internships, minors, or certifications in complementary fields like technical writing, digital content creation, or education licensure to carve a more direct and resilient career trajectory.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Ohio University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering English & Literature
How Ohio University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Ohio University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Ohio University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about English & Literature at Ohio University
How does Ohio University-Main Campus's English & Literature program score?
This program scores 18/100 — on the lower end for English & Literature. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is English & Literature to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' English & Literature careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 53% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are English & Literature earnings lower at Ohio University-Main Campus?
Lower starting pay at Ohio University-Main Campus may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.