English at CUNY Hunter College

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
39 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
39
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $27,958/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 18.6x earnings multiple (9.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #47 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 graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $558K $550K $500K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.9x 18.6x 16.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.1x 9.0x 8.2x
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)
$29,528
Out-of-state: $61,328 (9.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$9,784
67% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,533
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,636
88% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $27,958/yr, roughly in line with the $30,427 national median for English. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI English programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in English's typical career paths, with 61% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $27,958 far exceeding the $13,533 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #47 of 493 programs, CUNY Hunter College's English program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $52,636 show a 88% jump from the $27,958 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About CUNY Hunter College

A 54% admission rate makes CUNY Hunter College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving 16,642 students in New York, NY. With 55% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $9,784 over four years — 67% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY Hunter 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

English at Other Schools

Other Majors at CUNY Hunter College

Consider the Trade Route?

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for English at CUNY Hunter College?
A score of 39/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for English. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace English careers?
With 61% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $500,119 in decade earnings vs $558,206 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is CUNY Hunter College a hidden gem for English?
After financial aid, the average student pays $9,784 over four years — 67% below the $29,528 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →