WhatGradsMake
Master's-11% vs national median232 grads tracked

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

Ranked 147th of 183 master's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$40,342
middle 50%: $27,542 – $53,793
Median · 5 years out
$53,937
middle 50%: $38,279 – $70,960
Median · 10 years out
$63,146
middle 50%: $48,071 – $80,481

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 Southern Illinois University at Carbondale's master's program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $40,342 one year after graduating, rising to $63,146 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 11% below the national median of $60,738 for this field, ranking 147th 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
7.7 yrs
≈ $8,819 total interest

Same major at other universities

Ohio University
$54,522 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$54,216 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota State University
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Southeast Missouri State University
$53,862 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Brockport
$53,696 · 5 yrs out
Western Carolina University
$53,578 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$53,536 · 5 yrs out
University of Toledo
$53,455 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$53,391 · 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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