WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-9% vs national median1,507 grads tracked

English Language and Literature/Letters at Portland State University

Ranked 225th of 382 bachelor's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$31,880
middle 50%: $23,709 – $42,596
Median · 5 years out
$48,157
middle 50%: $34,075 – $63,114
Median · 10 years out
$60,886
middle 50%: $42,505 – $79,888

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

Graduates of Portland State University's bachelor's program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $31,880 one year after graduating, rising to $60,886 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 9% below the national median of $53,081 for this field, ranking 225th of 382 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
8.8 yrs
≈ $10,655 total interest

Same major at other universities

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
University of Missouri - Kansas City
$48,118 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
$48,096 · 5 yrs out
Bethel University
$48,096 · 5 yrs out
Augsburg University
$48,066 · 5 yrs out
Benedictine University
$48,030 · 5 yrs out
Winthrop University
$48,020 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Portland State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$189,860 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$158,313 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$130,437 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$126,846 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$123,233 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$122,667 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Doctorate)
$120,677 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$116,662 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$115,474 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,147 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$110,977 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$105,672 · 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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