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English at Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
24 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
25
Optimistic
24
Base Case
18
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,449/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 2.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #383 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs

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 $659K $637K $561K
Earnings Multiple 2.5x 2.5x 2.2x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 25 24 18

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$259,032
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$114,984
56% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$66,625
112% growth from Year 1

About Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University admits 22% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, enrolling 5,471 students in Winston-Salem, NC. After financial aid, the average student pays $114,984 over four years — 56% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Wake Forest 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 →

English 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 Wake Forest University

Finance and Financial Management Services ($85,944) Business/Commerce, General ($76,722) Computer Science ($75,625) Economics ($56,416) Political Science and Government ($47,161) Sociology ($46,257) Communication and Media Studies ($42,055) Psychology, General ($34,823)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare English trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for English at Wake Forest University?
A score of 24/100 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 $561,090 in decade earnings vs $659,342 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Wake Forest University a hidden gem for English?
After financial aid, the average student pays $114,984 over four years — 56% below the $259,032 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →