English at University of Maine
Orono, ME · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
27
Optimistic
26
Base Case
22
Pessimistic
Earnings
$28,727/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market
Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI
9.5x earnings multiple (3.4x 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 | $477K | $479K | $451K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.5x | 9.5x | 8.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.4x | 3.4x | 3.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 41% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 27 | 26 | 22 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,424
Out-of-state: $141,384 (3.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
9.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,127
47% growth from Year 1
About University of Maine
University of Maine accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 8,341 in Orono, ME.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Maine →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 University of Maine
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for English at University of Maine?
A score of 26/100 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 $450,915 in decade earnings vs $476,589 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →