English at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
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)
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 | $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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,625
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,347
44% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
English at Other Schools
Other Majors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State 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
How does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's English program score?
This program scores 41/100 — 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.
Why does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University rank so high for English?
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 →