English at Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
25
Optimistic
25
Base Case
21
Pessimistic
Earnings
$27,005/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market
Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI
7.8x earnings multiple (3.3x 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 | $513K | $510K | $473K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 7.8x | 7.8x | 7.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.3x | 3.3x | 3.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 41% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 25 | 25 | 21 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,832
Out-of-state: $156,168 (3.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,949
8.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,439
72% growth from Year 1
About Virginia Commonwealth University
A 93% acceptance rate means Virginia Commonwealth University is accessible to most applicants, with 20,797 students enrolled in Richmond, VA.
See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Commonwealth University →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
English at Other Schools
Other Majors at Virginia Commonwealth University
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 Virginia Commonwealth University?
A score of 25/100 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 $472,907 in decade earnings vs $513,070 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →