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English & Literature · English Rank #215 of 493

Englishat Yale University

Graduates earn $41,045/yr in their first year — about 35.0% above the national English average. Base-case 10-year earnings $576K; scenarios range from $519K to $589K depending on AI disruption.

New Haven, CT Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
31 AT RISK
31
Optimistic
23
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,045
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.4x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$576K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
63% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Yale University

Graduating with an English degree from an institution of Yale's caliber means your foundational skills are highly valued across a surprisingly broad range of industries. While the program deeply immerses you in literary analysis and critical theory, it simultaneously hones your advanced communication, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving abilities. These transferable skills are highly sought after by employers far beyond traditional humanities fields, including top-tier consulting firms, financial institutions, tech companies (for non-technical roles), and major media outlets, many of which actively recruit from Yale.

Your proximity to the New York City job market further amplifies these opportunities, connecting you to robust networks in publishing, journalism, and the arts, alongside those fast-paced corporate sectors. While some traditional roles face automation risks, your ability to articulate, persuade, and innovate with language remains profoundly human-centric and invaluable. To maximize your prospects, actively explore internships and networking opportunities across diverse fields, leveraging the Yale brand to open doors you might not initially consider.

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
$519K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score23/100
Earnings Multiple2.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$576K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score31/100
Earnings Multiple2.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$589K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score31/100
Earnings Multiple2.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Yale University'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 Yale University 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 Yale University

Other top programs at Yale University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Yale University, 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 Yale University

How does Yale University's English program score?

This program scores 31/100 — 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.

How affordable is English at Yale University after financial aid?

Sticker price is $258,800, but the average net cost is $111,272 — a 57% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.