Bachelor's+4% vs national median2,157 grads tracked
English Language and Literature, General at Illinois State University
Ranked 90th of 370 bachelor's programs in English Language and Literature, General by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,164
middle 50%: $27,232 – $48,769
Median · 5 years out
$54,210
middle 50%: $40,960 – $66,986
Median · 10 years out
$66,690
middle 50%: $51,352 – $86,536
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for English Language and Literature, General (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
English Language and Literature graduates at Illinois State University earn a median of $37k in year one. Ten-year median earnings reach $67k.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7.8 yrs
≈ $9,153 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$54,709 · 5 yrs out
Fitchburg State University
$54,496 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$54,457 · 5 yrs out
Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina
$54,404 · 5 yrs out
Macalester College
$54,382 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$54,356 · 5 yrs out
Saint Olaf College
$54,151 · 5 yrs out
College of Saint Benedict
$53,776 · 5 yrs out
Shenandoah University
$53,767 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Victoria
$53,647 · 5 yrs out
Elmhurst University
$53,636 · 5 yrs out
Christopher Newport University
$53,604 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Illinois State University
Education (Doctorate)
$110,151 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,004 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$100,616 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$94,916 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$93,908 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$92,435 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$91,685 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$91,592 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$89,527 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$88,197 · 5 yrs out
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Doctorate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out