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English at University of South Carolina-Upstate

Spartanburg, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,150/yr (-1% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)

Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)

ROI 9.3x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #276 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs

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	$423K	$432K	$418K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.1x	9.3x	9.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.7x	4.8x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	41%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	29	29	24

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$46,332

Out-of-state: $90,180 (4.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$54,900

-18% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,671

7.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $30,150/yr, English graduates from University of South Carolina-Upstate land near the $30,427 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

At 9.3x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 61% task exposure — and the 1% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $18,671 debt-to-$30,150 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #276 out of 493 programs, University of South Carolina-Upstate's financial outcomes for English trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About University of South Carolina-Upstate

University of South Carolina-Upstate accepts 70% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with a smaller student body of 4,008 in Spartanburg, SC. Pell Grant recipients make up 45% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Upstate →

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 South Carolina-Upstate

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

How does University of South Carolina-Upstate's English program score?

This program scores 29/100 — 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.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →