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English & Literature · English Rank #11 of 493

Englishat University of Virginia-Main Campus

Graduates earn $40,092/yr in their first year — about 32.0% above the national English average. Base-case 10-year earnings $596K; scenarios range from $532K to $612K depending on AI disruption.

Charlottesville, VA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
44 AVERAGE
45
Optimistic
36
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,092
1-year post-graduation
ROI
6.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$596K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
63% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Virginia

Your English degree from a highly selective institution like UVA carries significant weight, often opening doors beyond traditional teaching or publishing roles. The program's rigor cultivates exceptional critical thinking, complex communication, and analytical skills—qualities highly sought by employers in diverse fields such as marketing, consulting, non-profit management, and government, particularly in the D.C. area. While some entry-level content or proofreading tasks face increasing AI automation, your ability to craft nuanced arguments, interpret complex texts, and understand human communication remains invaluable. This distinction between task-level automation and higher-order strategic thinking is crucial. To maximize your outcomes, actively seek internships that apply your communication and analytical prowess in professional settings, showing employers how your liberal arts foundation translates directly into tangible business or organizational value.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$532K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score36/100
Earnings Multiple6.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$596K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score44/100
Earnings Multiple7.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$612K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score45/100
Earnings Multiple7.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Virginia's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where English graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
0.0% 10-yr growth · 5,100 openings/yr
$78,270/yr
High
2
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
3
Proofreaders and copy markers
-0.6% 10-yr growth · 1,900 openings/yr
$49,210/yr
Very High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering English

How University of Virginia stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Georgetown University
DC · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Top score
University of Houston-Clear Lake
TX · Public
56
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
17.4x
ROI
Monmouth University
NJ · Private nonprofit
37
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
2.2x
ROI
Brown University
RI · Private nonprofit
33
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
1.0x
ROI
Northeastern University
MA · Private nonprofit
33
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
1.1x
ROI
Also at University of Virginia

Other top programs at University of Virginia

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Virginia, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in English offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare English trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about English at University of Virginia

What does a 44/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for English at University of Virginia-Main Campus?

At 44/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring English programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study English at University of Virginia-Main Campus?

The 61% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is University of Virginia-Main Campus one of the best schools for English?

Among 493 English programs, University of Virginia-Main Campus's #11 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.