English at University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
33
Optimistic
33
Base Case
27
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,540/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 9.3x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #182 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs Top 50%

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 $552K $544K $496K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.5x 9.3x 8.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.4x 4.3x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 33 33 27

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$58,236
Out-of-state: $125,916 (4.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$84,432
-45% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,242
74% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $30,540/yr, roughly in line with the $30,427 national median for English. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.3x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in English's typical career paths, with 61% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $30,540 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #182 of 493 English programs, University of Mary Washington scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $53,242 show a 74% jump from the $30,540 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Mary Washington

University of Mary Washington accepts 86% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 3,504 in Fredericksburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Mary Washington →

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
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

English at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Mary Washington

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for English at University of Mary Washington?
A score of 33/100 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 $496,380 in decade earnings vs $552,007 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →