WhatGradsMake
Master's-9% vs national median121 grads tracked

English Language and Literature/Letters at Pennsylvania State University (The)

Ranked 136th of 183 master's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$38,325
middle 50%: $27,601 – $49,992
Median · 5 years out
$55,214
middle 50%: $35,940 – $73,849
Median · 10 years out
$75,391
middle 50%: $59,253 – $91,987

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 Pennsylvania State University (The)'s master's program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $38,325 one year after graduating, rising to $75,391 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 9% below the national median of $60,738 for this field, ranking 136th 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
7.5 yrs
≈ $8,857 total interest

Same major at other universities

Valdosta State University
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
University of New Orleans (The)
$55,402 · 5 yrs out
Marshall University
$55,375 · 5 yrs out
University of Iowa
$55,344 · 5 yrs out
Clemson University
$55,261 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
$55,261 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina -Greensboro
$54,777 · 5 yrs out
Northwestern State University
$54,639 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$54,615 · 5 yrs out
Southeastern Louisiana University
$54,522 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$54,522 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$54,216 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Pennsylvania State University (The)

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$182,178 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$177,057 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$143,044 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$135,252 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$130,869 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$122,394 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$116,440 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$115,495 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$115,004 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$114,831 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,734 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,727 · 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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