Home › Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University › English Language and Literature, General

English Language and Literature, General at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
41 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
41
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,155/yr (29% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 8.7x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #27 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to English Language and Literature, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $549K $541K $494K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.9x 8.7x 8.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.7x 3.7x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 41 34

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$61,912
Out-of-state: $146,776 (3.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$95,160
-54% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,625
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,347
44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,155 put Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's English Language and Literature, General program 29% above the national median of $30,427 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

At 8.7x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,625 debt-to-$39,155 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #27 out of 493 programs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's English Language and Literature, General program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $39,155 to $56,347 shows 44% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

A 57% admission rate makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving a student body of 30,435 in Blacksburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State 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
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 493 schools offering English Language and Literature, General →

English Language and Literature, General at Other Schools

Georgetown University ($52,122) University of Houston-Clear Lake ($50,876) Monmouth University ($50,737) Brown University ($50,437) Northeastern University ($49,639) Northeastern University Professional Programs ($49,639) Bowdoin College ($49,421) Williams College ($49,340)

Other Majors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($96,432) Computer Engineering ($86,636) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($83,364) Construction Engineering ($82,627) Industrial Engineering ($82,437) Chemical Engineering ($82,382) Applied Mathematics ($82,275) Engineering Mechanics ($81,735)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare English Language and Literature, General trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's English Language and Literature, General program score?
This program scores 41/100 — on the lower end for English Language and Literature, General. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is English Language and Literature, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' English Language and Literature, General 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.
Why does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University rank so high for English Language and Literature, General?
The #27 ranking out of 493 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →