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English Language and Literature, General at California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
39 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
39
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,638/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 17.3x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #52 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 Language and Literature, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $542K $536K $490K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.5x 17.3x 15.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.9x 6.8x 6.2x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 39 39 34

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,956
Out-of-state: $78,476 (6.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$42,200
-36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,500
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,512
74% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $29,638 track close to the $30,427 national median for English Language and Literature, General programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 17.3x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $15,500 debt-to-$29,638 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #52 out of 493 programs, California State University-San Marcos's English Language and Literature, General program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $29,638 to $51,512 over five years (74% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-San Marcos

California State University-San Marcos has a 96% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 14,174 in San Marcos, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 44% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

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

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-San Marcos

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($103,799) Accounting and Related Services ($63,366) Computer Systems Analysis ($61,054) Computer Science ($60,645) Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology ($57,682) Physics ($56,018) International Business ($55,455) Management Information Systems and Services ($55,102)

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-San Marcos's English Language and Literature, General program score?
This program scores 39/100 — 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-San Marcos rank so high for English Language and Literature, General?
The #52 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 →