WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-7% vs national median868 grads tracked

English Language and Literature/Letters at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Ranked 201st of 382 bachelor's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$33,960
middle 50%: $24,902 – $43,948
Median · 5 years out
$49,211
middle 50%: $37,093 – $61,679
Median · 10 years out
$61,908
middle 50%: $46,639 – $81,504

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 Edwardsville's bachelor's program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $33,960 one year after graduating, rising to $61,908 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 7% below the national median of $53,081 for this field, ranking 201st 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
8.6 yrs
≈ $10,196 total interest

Same major at other universities

Longwood University
$49,518 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$49,461 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
$49,431 · 5 yrs out
Nicholls State University
$49,357 · 5 yrs out
Angelo State University
$49,313 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$49,252 · 5 yrs out
College of Charleston
$49,186 · 5 yrs out
Texas A & M University - Texarkana
$49,171 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Brockport
$49,093 · 5 yrs out
University of Maine at Presque Isle
$49,035 · 5 yrs out
Tarleton State University
$49,000 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$48,997 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Dentistry (Doctorate)
$168,009 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$156,616 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,805 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,993 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$109,392 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$102,790 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$98,753 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$96,425 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$94,896 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$93,766 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's)
$91,284 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$89,231 · 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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