Bachelor's+2% vs national median2,171 grads tracked
English Language and Literature/Letters at Illinois State University
Ranked 99th of 382 bachelor's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,300
middle 50%: $27,304 – $49,007
Median · 5 years out
$54,199
middle 50%: $41,079 – $66,985
Median · 10 years out
$66,709
middle 50%: $51,277 – $86,611
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for English Language and Literature/Letters (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
English major graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of $37,300 in their first year. Median pay reaches $66,709 by year 10.
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
≈ $9,137 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$54,739 · 5 yrs out
Stephen F Austin State University
$54,494 · 5 yrs out
Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina
$54,404 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$54,356 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Thomas
$54,319 · 5 yrs out
Butler University
$54,286 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$54,249 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$54,199 · 5 yrs out
Saint Olaf College
$54,151 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$53,914 · 5 yrs out
Christopher Newport University
$53,604 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Tyler
$53,502 · 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
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
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Master's)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Bachelor's)
$85,173 · 5 yrs out