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English Language and Literature, General at CUNY City College

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
40
Optimistic
40
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings $27,082/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 19.8x earnings multiple (9.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #35 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs Top 10%

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 $594K $581K $522K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.2x 19.8x 17.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.7x 9.5x 8.5x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 40 40 36

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,360
Out-of-state: $61,160 (9.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$13,944
53% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,878
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,288
108% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $27,082/yr, roughly in line with the $30,427 national median for English Language and Literature, General. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 19.8x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $27,082 far exceeding the $11,878 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #35 ranking out of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs nationally puts CUNY City College in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $27,082 to $56,288 over five years (108% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About CUNY City College

A 58% admission rate makes CUNY City College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, enrolling 11,934 students in New York, NY. With 60% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $13,944 over four years — 53% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY City College →

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 CUNY City College

Computer Science ($83,258) Computer Engineering ($78,326) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,172) Chemical Engineering ($67,450) Civil Engineering ($67,194) Mechanical Engineering ($65,905) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($62,945) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($56,711)

Consider the Trade Route?

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

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 CUNY City College's English Language and Literature, General program score?
This program scores 40/100 — 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.
How affordable is English Language and Literature, General at CUNY City College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $29,360, but the average net cost is $13,944 — a 53% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →