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English at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $32,531/yr (7% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)

Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)

ROI 17.2x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #24 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs Top 5%

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	$529K	$524K	$482K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.4x	17.2x	15.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.8x	6.7x	6.2x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	41%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	42	41	35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$30,408

Out-of-state: $77,928 (6.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$42,048

-38% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

5.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,013

57% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $32,531 per year, English graduates from California State University-Sacramento earn slightly above the $30,427 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 17.2x 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 median debt load of $15,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #24 out of 493 programs, California State University-Sacramento's English program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $32,531 to $51,013 over five years (57% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Sacramento

With 94% of applicants admitted, California State University-Sacramento prioritizes broad access, serving a student body of 27,867 in Sacramento, CA. 49% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Sacramento →

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 California State University-Sacramento

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Sacramento'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 California State University-Sacramento rank so high for English?

The #24 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 →