English at Washington & Jefferson College

Washington, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
34
Optimistic
33
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,046/yr (22% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI 4.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #177 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 $533K $528K $485K
Earnings Multiple 4.7x 4.7x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 33 26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$112,740
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$102,176
9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
8.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,369
44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Washington & Jefferson College's English graduates start at $37,046/yr — above the $30,427 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 4.7x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 9 months of the $37,046 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #177 of 493 English programs, Washington & Jefferson College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $37,046 to $53,369 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Washington & Jefferson College

A 82% acceptance rate means Washington & Jefferson College is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 1,154 in Washington, PA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington & Jefferson 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for English at Washington & Jefferson College?
A score of 33/100 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 $485,112 in decade earnings vs $533,317 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →