WhatGradsMake
Master's+12% vs national median319 grads tracked

English Language and Literature/Letters at Northern Illinois University

Ranked 31st of 183 master's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$51,341
middle 50%: $33,218 – $68,151
Median · 5 years out
$68,140
middle 50%: $46,878 – $83,032
Median · 10 years out
$76,518
middle 50%: $56,877 – $102,996

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 Northern Illinois University's master's program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $51,341 one year after graduating, rising to $76,518 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 12% above the national median of $60,738 for this field, ranking 31st 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 yrs
≈ $6,698 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Colorado Denver
$69,368 · 5 yrs out
Virginia State University
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Texas Southmost College
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$68,626 · 5 yrs out
James Madison University
$68,179 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$68,159 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Clear Lake
$68,098 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Thomas
$68,002 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$67,797 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at New Paltz
$67,254 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Chicago
$67,174 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$66,701 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Northern Illinois University

Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 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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