Englishat University of California-Los Angeles
Graduates earn $27,889/yr in their first year — about 8.0% below the national English average. Base-case 10-year earnings $603K; scenarios range from $538K to $620K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UCLA
While a UCLA English degree signals strong intellectual capabilities, the initial career paths often taken by graduates, such as education, publishing, or non-profit work, typically have more modest starting salaries, particularly within the competitive Los Angeles market. The program’s rigor in critical thinking, analytical skills, and advanced communication, however, often pays dividends in later career progression as you transition into leadership, specialized content roles in tech, or highly-valued positions in media and entertainment.
The noted AI risk primarily targets roles focused on repetitive textual tasks, like basic content generation or proofreading. Your human advantage lies in nuanced interpretation, creative storytelling, complex argumentation, and cultural understanding—skills UCLA hones. To maximize your prospects, actively seek internships that apply your communication strengths to fields like digital marketing, user experience writing, or policy analysis, building a portfolio that demonstrates practical application beyond pure academics.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UCLA's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering English
How UCLA stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UCLA
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UCLA, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in English offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare English trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about English at UCLA
What does a 35/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for English at University of California-Los Angeles?
At 35/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring English programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study English at University of California-Los Angeles?
The 61% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is University of California-Los Angeles one of the best schools for English?
Among 493 English programs, University of California-Los Angeles's #113 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.