English at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
42
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings
$37,031/yr (22% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market
Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI
8.9x earnings multiple (4.1x 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 | $583K | $571K | $515K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.1x | 8.9x | 8.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.2x | 4.1x | 3.7x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 41% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 42 | 42 | 34 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$64,016
Out-of-state: $138,004 (4.1x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,391
63% growth from Year 1
About University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
With a 44% acceptance rate, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is moderately selective, serving a student body of 34,623 in Champaign, IL.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign →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
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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's English program score?
This program scores 42/100 — 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.
Why does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign rank so high for English?
The #20 ranking out of 493 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →