English at Spelman College

Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
33
Optimistic
33
Base Case
27
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,129/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 5.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #160 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs Top 50%

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 $640K $621K $550K
Earnings Multiple 5.3x 5.2x 4.6x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 33 33 27

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$120,232
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$147,312
-23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,314
9.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,244
106% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $31,129/yr, English graduates from Spelman College land near the $30,427 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

At 5.2x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 61% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,314 debt-to-$31,129 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #160 out of 493 programs, Spelman College's English offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $31,129 to $64,244 over five years (106% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Spelman College

A 34% acceptance rate puts Spelman College in competitive admissions territory, a compact campus enrolling 3,633 students in Atlanta, GA.

See all programs and financial aid at Spelman 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

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Spelman College's English program score?
This program scores 33/100 — on the lower end for English. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is English to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' English 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →