English at Rhode Island College

Providence, RI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
30
Optimistic
30
Base Case
25
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,389/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 11.3x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #247 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 $498K $498K $464K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.3x 11.3x 10.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.7x 4.7x 4.4x
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)
$43,944
Out-of-state: $106,076 (4.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$43,952
-0% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,091
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,516
55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $29,389/yr, roughly in line with the $30,427 national median for English. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 11.3x 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 $18,091 debt-to-$29,389 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #247 out of 493 programs, Rhode Island College's financial outcomes for English trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $29,389 to $45,516 over five years (55% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Rhode Island College

Rhode Island College accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 4,630 students in Providence, RI. 41% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Rhode Island College →

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 Rhode Island College

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Rhode Island College's English program score?
This program scores 30/100 — 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 →