English at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
26
Optimistic
25
Base Case
21
Pessimistic
Earnings
$26,476/yr (-13% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market
Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI
9.3x earnings multiple (3.9x 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 | $500K | $499K | $465K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.3x | 9.3x | 8.6x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.9x | 3.9x | 3.6x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 41% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 26 | 25 | 21 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,936
Out-of-state: $127,896 (3.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,278
9.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,483
68% growth from Year 1
About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
With a 46% acceptance rate, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is moderately selective, one of the larger campuses at 28,763 students in Knoxville, TN.
See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville →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
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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 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?
A score of 25/100 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 $465,105 in decade earnings vs $500,129 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →