English at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
21
Optimistic
21
Base Case
18
Pessimistic
Earnings
$24,145/yr (-21% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market
Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI
8.6x earnings multiple
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 | $451K | $457K | $436K |
| Earnings Multiple | 8.5x | 8.6x | 8.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 41% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 21 | 21 | 18 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$52,976
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,250
13.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$36,811
52% growth from Year 1
About Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
A 90% acceptance rate means Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 8,116 in Carbondale, IL.
See all programs and financial aid at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale →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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for English at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
A score of 21/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for English. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is English at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale worth the student debt?
Median debt of $26,250 against $24,145/yr starting salary means roughly 1.1 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
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 $435,783 in decade earnings vs $451,488 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with English from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →