WhatGradsMake
Master's+2% vs national median230 grads tracked

English Language and Literature/Letters at Illinois State University

Ranked 64th of 183 master's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$48,487
middle 50%: $30,584 – $65,986
Median · 5 years out
$62,198
middle 50%: $42,596 – $77,796
Median · 10 years out
$73,997
middle 50%: $51,929 – $97,476

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for English Language and Literature/Letters (master's) graduates.

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

Graduates of Illinois State University's master's program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $48,487 one year after graduating, rising to $73,997 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% above the national median of $60,738 for this field, ranking 64th of 183 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
6.5 yrs
≈ $7,273 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Northern Iowa
$63,061 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Albany
$62,653 · 5 yrs out
Bridgewater State University
$62,393 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
$62,224 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$62,158 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Arlington
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$61,703 · 5 yrs out
Western Connecticut State University
$61,446 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$61,332 · 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
Compare universities
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
Compare universities
Literature
Compare universities
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Compare universities