WhatGradsMake
Master's+2% vs national median259 grads tracked

English Language and Literature/Letters at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Ranked 63rd of 183 master's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$45,056
middle 50%: $32,272 – $62,664
Median · 5 years out
$62,224
middle 50%: $43,271 – $80,183
Median · 10 years out
$76,267
middle 50%: $40,146 – $92,387

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 Edwardsville's master's program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $45,056 one year after graduating, rising to $76,267 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% above the national median of $60,738 for this field, ranking 63rd 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
6.7 yrs
≈ $7,595 total interest

Same major at other universities

Weber State University
$63,214 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Iowa
$63,061 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Albany
$62,653 · 5 yrs out
Bridgewater State University
$62,393 · 5 yrs out
Illinois State University
$62,198 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$62,158 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Arlington
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$61,703 · 5 yrs out
Western Connecticut State University
$61,446 · 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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