English at University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
34 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
35
Optimistic
34
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $24,384/yr (-20% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 18.6x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #147 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 $551K $543K $496K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.8x 18.6x 16.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.0x 5.9x 5.4x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 35 34 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,268
Out-of-state: $91,940 (5.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$77,888
-166% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,000
10.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,569
103% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of North Carolina Wilmington's English graduates start at $24,384/yr, trailing the $30,427 national average by 20%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI English programs nationally.

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 $22,000 represents roughly 11 months of the $24,384 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #147 of 493 English programs, University of North Carolina Wilmington scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $49,569 show a 103% jump from the $24,384 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of North Carolina Wilmington

A 74% acceptance rate means University of North Carolina Wilmington is accessible to most applicants, serving 14,176 students in Wilmington, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina Wilmington →

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 North Carolina Wilmington

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 North Carolina Wilmington?
A score of 34/100 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 $495,640 in decade earnings vs $550,780 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with English from University of North Carolina Wilmington?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →