English at Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
28
Optimistic
27
Base Case
23
Pessimistic
Earnings
$27,186/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market
Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI
12.1x earnings multiple (5.5x 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 | $407K | $418K | $409K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 11.8x | 12.1x | 11.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.3x | 5.5x | 5.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 41% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 28 | 27 | 23 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$34,568
Out-of-state: $76,328 (5.5x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,360
8.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$32,058
18% growth from Year 1
About Shepherd University
Shepherd University accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 2,375 students in Shepherdstown, WV.
See all programs and financial aid at Shepherd 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 Shepherd University
Consider the Trade Route?
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 Shepherd University's English program score?
This program scores 27/100 — 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 →