WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+14% vs national median35 grads tracked

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Northern Illinois University

Ranked 12th of 53 bachelor's programs in Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$37,316
middle 50%: $24,465 – $52,636
Median · 5 years out
$62,818
middle 50%: $37,592 – $83,557
Median · 10 years out
$69,154
middle 50%: $44,398 – $93,187

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (bachelor's) graduates.

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

Graduates of Northern Illinois University's bachelor's program in Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics earn a median $37,316 one year after graduating, rising to $69,154 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 14% above the national median of $55,181 for this field, ranking 12th of 53 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
7.1 yrs
≈ $8,364 total interest

Same major at other universities

Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$64,718 · 5 yrs out
College of William & Mary
$64,628 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$64,257 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$63,134 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$62,075 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$61,545 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$60,738 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Hunter College
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$59,135 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$58,227 · 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

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