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English at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,526/yr (-6% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)

Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)

ROI 12.3x earnings multiple (3.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #153 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	$559K	$550K	$501K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.5x	12.3x	11.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.4x	3.4x	3.1x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	41%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	34	34	30

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$44,820

Out-of-state: $162,412 (3.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$67,712

-51% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,989

8.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$53,044

86% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,526 track close to the $30,427 national median for English programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 12.3x 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 $19,989 debt-to-$28,526 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #153 out of 493 programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison's English offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $28,526 to $53,044 over five years (86% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Wisconsin-Madison

With a 43% acceptance rate, University of Wisconsin-Madison is moderately selective, one of the larger campuses at 35,665 students in Madison, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Madison →

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 University of Wisconsin-Madison's English program score?

This program scores 34/100 — 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 →