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English & Literature · English Rank #235 of 493

Englishat University of Chicago

Graduates earn $44,397/yr in their first year — about 46.0% above the national English average. Base-case 10-year earnings $523K; scenarios range from $482K to $528K depending on AI disruption.

Chicago, IL Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
30 AT RISK
31
Optimistic
22
Pessimistic
Earnings
$44,397
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.0x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$523K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
63% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Chicago

Your UChicago English degree provides a powerful foundation in critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and sophisticated communication, skills highly valued across diverse industries. While some traditional English roles face disruption, graduates from elite institutions like UChicago are recruited for their intellectual agility and ability to tackle complex problems. This explains why many enter fields like consulting, finance, law, tech (in non-coding roles), marketing, or high-level non-profits, where their nuanced understanding of language and human behavior is invaluable. The university's strong academic reputation and extensive alumni network, combined with Chicago's robust job market, create significant career pipelines for these versatile skills. To maximize your prospects, actively seek internships that apply your analytical and communication strengths in a professional setting, demonstrating your adaptability beyond purely academic pursuits.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$482K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score22/100
Earnings Multiple1.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$523K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score30/100
Earnings Multiple2.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$528K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score31/100
Earnings Multiple2.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Chicago's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where English graduates typically work

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.

1
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
0.0% 10-yr growth · 5,100 openings/yr
$78,270/yr
High
2
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
3
Proofreaders and copy markers
-0.6% 10-yr growth · 1,900 openings/yr
$49,210/yr
Very High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering English

How University of Chicago stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Georgetown University
DC · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Top score
University of Houston-Clear Lake
TX · Public
56
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
17.4x
ROI
Monmouth University
NJ · Private nonprofit
37
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
2.2x
ROI
Brown University
RI · Private nonprofit
33
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
1.0x
ROI
Northeastern University
MA · Private nonprofit
33
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
1.1x
ROI
Also at University of Chicago

Other top programs at University of Chicago

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Chicago, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about English at University of Chicago

How does University of Chicago's English program score?

This program scores 30/100 — 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.

How affordable is English at University of Chicago after financial aid?

Sticker price is $267,756, but the average net cost is $75,868 — a 72% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.