WhatGradsMake
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

Graduates of Illinois State University's bachelor's program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $37,300 one year after graduating, rising to $66,709 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% above the national median of $53,081 for this field, ranking 99th of 382 reporting programs.

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

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
Shenandoah University
$53,767 · 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
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

Related fields of study

English Language and Literature, General
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English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
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Literature
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Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
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