English at Plymouth State University

Plymouth, NH · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
26 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
26
Optimistic
26
Base Case
21
Pessimistic
Earnings $27,833/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 8.5x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #334 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs

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 $497K $496K $463K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.5x 8.5x 8.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.9x 4.9x 4.5x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 26 26 21

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$58,232
Out-of-state: $101,992 (4.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$78,740
-35% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,188
10.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,639
60% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $27,833/yr, roughly in line with the $30,427 national median for English. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.5x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,188 represents roughly 10 months of the $27,833 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #334 of 493 English programs, Plymouth State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $44,639 show a 60% jump from the $27,833 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Plymouth State University

Plymouth State University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 3,298 students in Plymouth, NH.

See all programs and financial aid at Plymouth State University →

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 Plymouth State University

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 Plymouth State University?
A score of 26/100 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 $463,092 in decade earnings vs $496,791 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →