WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)+5% vs national median100 grads tracked

English Language and Literature/Letters at State University of New York at Stony Brook

Ranked 15th of 56 doctoral (research) programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$62,224
middle 50%: $43,948 – $84,610
Median · 5 years out
$77,524
middle 50%: $61,036 – $98,712
Median · 10 years out
$82,300
middle 50%: $59,105 – $114,494

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for English Language and Literature/Letters (doctoral (research)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of State University of New York at Stony Brook's doctoral (research) program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $62,224 one year after graduating, rising to $82,300 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 5% above the national median of $74,110 for this field, ranking 15th of 56 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
5.1 yrs
≈ $5,547 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Michigan
$80,729 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$80,415 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$79,247 · 5 yrs out
Bowling Green State University
$78,709 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$78,199 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$78,090 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$77,321 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$76,701 · 5 yrs out
Illinois State University
$76,680 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$75,655 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$74,872 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$74,729 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at State University of New York at Stony Brook

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$221,420 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$173,336 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$169,215 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$137,075 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$129,329 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$127,509 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$123,452 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$119,011 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$117,513 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$116,801 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Doctorate)
$112,807 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$112,291 · 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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