English at Salem State University
Salem, MA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
32
Optimistic
32
Base Case
25
Pessimistic
Earnings
$32,844/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market
Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI
10.1x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)
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 | $485K | $486K | $456K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 10.1x | 10.1x | 9.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.4x | 6.4x | 6.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 41% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 32 | 32 | 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)
$47,912
Out-of-state: $75,844 (6.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,250
9.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,760
36% growth from Year 1
About Salem State University
A 96% acceptance rate means Salem State University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 4,286 students in Salem, MA.
See all programs and financial aid at Salem 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
Compare & Explore
English at Other Schools
Other Majors at Salem State University
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for English at Salem State University?
A score of 32/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for English. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace English careers?
With 61% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $456,086 in decade earnings vs $485,169 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →