WhatGradsMake
Master's-11% vs national median69 grads tracked

English Language and Literature/Letters at South Dakota State University

Ranked 146th of 183 master's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$42,596
middle 50%: $33,128 – $53,343
Median · 5 years out
$54,051
middle 50%: $41,019 – $62,007
Median · 10 years out
$61,827
middle 50%: $52,950 – $79,157

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 South Dakota State University's master's program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $42,596 one year after graduating, rising to $61,827 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 11% below the national median of $60,738 for this field, ranking 146th 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
7.6 yrs
≈ $8,548 total interest

Same major at other universities

Southeastern Louisiana University
$54,522 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$54,522 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$54,216 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
$53,937 · 5 yrs out
Southeast Missouri State University
$53,862 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Brockport
$53,696 · 5 yrs out
Western Carolina University
$53,578 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$53,536 · 5 yrs out
University of Toledo
$53,455 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at South Dakota State University

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$152,803 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$152,496 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$148,262 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$142,581 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$113,950 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$112,807 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$102,841 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$100,794 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,697 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$93,240 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$90,181 · 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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