WhatGradsMake
Master's0% vs national median169 grads tracked

English Language and Literature/Letters at Western Illinois University

Ranked 79th of 183 master's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$48,943
middle 50%: $30,437 – $61,332
Median · 5 years out
$60,672
middle 50%: $47,289 – $70,502
Median · 10 years out
$64,599
middle 50%: $44,060 – $79,904

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 Western Illinois University's master's program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $48,943 one year after graduating, rising to $64,599 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 0% below the national median of $60,738 for this field, ranking 79th 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
≈ $7,343 total interest

Same major at other universities

Old Dominion University
$61,070 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$61,036 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$61,036 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$60,738 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Saint Louis
$60,555 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$60,533 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Tyler
$60,442 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
$60,342 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M International University
$60,342 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$60,076 · 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

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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