WhatGradsMake
Master's-14% vs national median132 grads tracked

English Language and Literature/Letters at Purdue University

Ranked 165th of 183 master's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$34,162
middle 50%: $26,493 – $54,365
Median · 5 years out
$52,165
middle 50%: $33,897 – $72,756
Median · 10 years out
$65,054
middle 50%: $48,791 – $81,043

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 Purdue University's master's program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $34,162 one year after graduating, rising to $65,054 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 14% below the national median of $60,738 for this field, ranking 165th 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
8.2 yrs
≈ $9,772 total interest

Same major at other universities

North Carolina Central University
$52,636 · 5 yrs out
Hollins University
$52,636 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$52,499 · 5 yrs out
Radford University
$52,479 · 5 yrs out
Bemidji State University
$52,435 · 5 yrs out
Truman State University
$52,283 · 5 yrs out
Longwood University
$52,093 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Southern University
$52,071 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$51,694 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$51,576 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana Tech University
$51,505 · 5 yrs out
Youngstown State University
$51,505 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Purdue University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$219,424 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$162,085 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$160,199 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,081 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$152,803 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$151,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$148,110 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$141,828 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$135,976 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$126,565 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$122,270 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Doctorate)
$122,253 · 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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