Bachelor's+12% vs national median2,572 grads tracked
English Language and Literature/Letters at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ranked 37th of 382 bachelor's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$39,908
middle 50%: $27,790 – $52,081
Median · 5 years out
$59,617
middle 50%: $44,392 – $77,826
Median · 10 years out
$80,059
middle 50%: $58,585 – $115,397
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
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign English Language graduates earn $39,908 in year 1. Median pay reaches $80k by year 10.
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
≈ $8,292 total interest
Same major at other universities
Hampden Sydney College
$60,696 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Clear Lake
$60,499 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Downtown
$60,442 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$60,138 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$60,038 · 5 yrs out
College of William & Mary
$59,740 · 5 yrs out
Hampton University
$59,600 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$59,387 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan State University
$59,282 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Brandywine
$59,253 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M International University
$59,117 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$58,698 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$226,077 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$206,093 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$177,207 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$176,681 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$173,815 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$164,239 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$159,201 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$152,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,479 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$126,011 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out