WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)+3% vs national median176 grads tracked

English Language and Literature/Letters at Illinois State University

Ranked 18th of 56 doctoral (research) programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$67,821
middle 50%: $48,487 – $81,262
Median · 5 years out
$76,680
middle 50%: $60,886 – $93,649
Median · 10 years out
$90,230
middle 50%: $79,576 – $110,004

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for English Language and Literature/Letters (doctoral (research)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Illinois State University's doctoral (research) program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $67,821 one year after graduating, rising to $90,230 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 3% above the national median of $74,110 for this field, ranking 18th of 56 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
4.9 yrs
≈ $5,219 total interest

Same major at other universities

Bowling Green State University
$78,709 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$78,199 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$78,090 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$77,524 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$77,321 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$76,701 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$75,655 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$74,872 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$74,729 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$74,586 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$74,545 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
$74,382 · 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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