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English at University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $26,957/yr (-11% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)

Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)

ROI 13.2x earnings multiple (9.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #248 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	$500K	$499K	$465K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.3x	13.2x	12.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	9.7x	9.6x	9.0x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	41%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	30	30	26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,728

Out-of-state: $51,768 (9.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$76,620

-103% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

11.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$44,704

66% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $26,957/yr, roughly in line with the $30,427 national median for English. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 13.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 61% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,000 debt-to-$26,957 income ratio translates to about 11 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #248 out of 493 programs, University of South Dakota's financial outcomes for English trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $26,957 to $44,704 over five years (66% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of South Dakota

University of South Dakota accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 5,239 students in Vermillion, SD.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Dakota →

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 Dakota

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of South Dakota's English program score?

This program scores 30/100 — 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 →