Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $40,233 put Bates College's English program 32% above the national median of $30,427 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
At 2.2x tuition cost, the financial math is tight. Decade earnings don't dramatically exceed what you paid, making school choice and aid packages critical.
The 11% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some English career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
A #262 ranking among 493 English programs places Bates College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 49% earnings increase from $40,233 to $60,044 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.