Englishat Reed College
Graduates earn $15,790/yr in their first year — about 48.0% below the national English average. Base-case 10-year earnings $444K; scenarios range from $426K to $436K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Reed College
Considering English at Reed means embracing an intensely academic environment, revered for its intellectual rigor and critical inquiry rather than direct vocational training. Your degree will hone exceptional analytical, writing, and communication skills, highly valued across many sectors, yet often requiring you to actively translate them into a specific career path. Unlike more pre-professional tracks, many graduates pursue advanced degrees, enter fields like publishing, non-profits, or education, or leverage their versatile abilities in roles requiring strong humanistic insight. The local Portland market, while dynamic, can be competitive for generalists without specific internship experience. Roles in teaching or editing, common for English majors, often have structured salary progression. To maximize your prospects, you’ll need to intentionally build practical skills and a professional network alongside your academic pursuits.
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 Reed College'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
How Reed College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Reed College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Reed College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in English offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare English trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about English at Reed College
What does a 11/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for English at Reed College?
At 11/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring English programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
What's the payoff timeline for a English degree from Reed College?
At $19,500 in median debt, graduates carry 15 months of starting salary in loans. Income-driven repayment plans may be relevant for many borrowers.
Should I worry about AI if I study English at Reed College?
The 61% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is Reed College a good choice for English despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Reed College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.