Bachelor's-8% vs national median518 grads tracked
English Language and Literature/Letters at Western Illinois University
Ranked 218th of 382 bachelor's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$33,039
middle 50%: $23,996 – $44,900
Median · 5 years out
$48,631
middle 50%: $34,779 – $62,036
Median · 10 years out
$59,048
middle 50%: $43,311 – $75,928
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
English literature graduates see a first-year median of $33k. Salaries reach $49k at five years and $59k at ten years.
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
8.8 yrs
≈ $10,453 total interest
Same major at other universities
South Dakota State University
$48,813 · 5 yrs out
University of North Georgia
$48,731 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$48,718 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota Morris
$48,694 · 5 yrs out
University of West Georgia
$48,679 · 5 yrs out
Hamline University
$48,661 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Parkside
$48,617 · 5 yrs out
Kennesaw State University
$48,515 · 5 yrs out
Monmouth College
$48,487 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Mennonite University
$48,487 · 5 yrs out
Berry College
$48,349 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$48,252 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Western Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$163,593 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,538 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$98,269 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,417 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$97,160 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,414 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,090 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$82,014 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$81,320 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out