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
30
Optimistic
30
Base Case
26
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)
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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
11.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,704
66% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
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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 →