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English at Auburn University

Auburn, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $33,213/yr (9% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)

Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)

ROI 10.4x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #109 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs Top 25%

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	$524K	$520K	$480K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.5x	10.4x	9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.9x	3.8x	3.5x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	41%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	36	35	29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$50,144

Out-of-state: $135,776 (3.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$95,588

-91% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,750

8.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,686

53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $33,213/yr, edging above the $30,427 national average for English — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 10.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 61% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,750 debt-to-$33,213 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #109 out of 493 programs, Auburn University's English program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $33,213 to $50,686 over five years (53% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Auburn University

With a 50% acceptance rate, Auburn University is moderately selective, serving a student body of 25,732 in Auburn, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at Auburn 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

English at Other Schools

Other Majors at Auburn 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 Auburn University's English program score?

This program scores 35/100 — 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 Auburn University rank so high for English?

The #109 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 →