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English Language and Literature, General at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
41 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
41
Base Case
35
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 Language and Literature, General 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 Language and Literature, General 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 Language and Literature, General 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

Compare this program → View all 493 schools offering English Language and Literature, General →

English Language and Literature, General 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 California State University-Sacramento

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($116,001) Construction Engineering ($90,836) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($74,450) Civil Engineering ($71,342) Mechanical Engineering ($66,462) Computer Engineering ($66,266) Computer Science ($60,028) Interior Architecture ($50,108)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare English Language and Literature, General trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Language and Literature, General program score?
This program scores 41/100 — on the lower end for English Language and Literature, General. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is English Language and Literature, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' English Language and Literature, General 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 Language and Literature, General?
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 →