WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-4% vs national median1,330 grads tracked

English Language and Literature/Letters at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Ranked 160th of 382 bachelor's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$32,307
middle 50%: $23,806 – $44,132
Median · 5 years out
$50,866
middle 50%: $36,894 – $64,085
Median · 10 years out
$63,656
middle 50%: $46,457 – $85,489

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 Southern Illinois University at Carbondale's bachelor's program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $32,307 one year after graduating, rising to $63,656 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% below the national median of $53,081 for this field, ranking 160th 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
8.4 yrs
≈ $10,196 total interest

Same major at other universities

Indiana University - Bloomington
$51,118 · 5 yrs out
Concordia College - Moorhead
$50,995 · 5 yrs out
Georgia College & State University
$50,978 · 5 yrs out
Northern Illinois University
$50,951 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University
$50,925 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Cortland
$50,911 · 5 yrs out
Virginia State University
$50,866 · 5 yrs out
University of Wyoming
$50,831 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Harrisburg
$50,802 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at New Paltz
$50,669 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Abington
$50,647 · 5 yrs out
Aurora University
$50,636 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$183,045 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$183,045 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$146,060 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Bachelor's)
$128,910 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$128,254 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$112,207 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$110,141 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$98,560 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,955 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$97,921 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$95,779 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,729 · 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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