WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+10% vs national median1,468 grads tracked

English Language and Literature, General at James Madison University

Ranked 52nd of 370 bachelor's programs in English Language and Literature, General by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$33,601
middle 50%: $24,372 – $45,357
Median · 5 years out
$57,486
middle 50%: $42,279 – $75,209
Median · 10 years out
$70,489
middle 50%: $52,666 – $98,177

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for English Language and Literature, General (bachelor's) graduates.

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

Graduates of James Madison University's bachelor's program in English Language and Literature, General earn a median $33,601 one year after graduating, rising to $70,489 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 10% above the national median of $52,222 for this field, ranking 52nd of 370 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
7.7 yrs
≈ $9,239 total interest

Same major at other universities

Sweet Briar College
$57,726 · 5 yrs out
Worcester State University
$57,641 · 5 yrs out
Fort Valley State University
$57,619 · 5 yrs out
Westfield State University
$57,594 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
$57,568 · 5 yrs out
City College of New York - CUNY
$57,496 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts at Boston
$57,229 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Thomas
$57,220 · 5 yrs out
Albertus Magnus College
$57,124 · 5 yrs out
West Texas A&M University
$57,115 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Central Texas
$57,075 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
$57,037 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at James Madison University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$149,041 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$113,393 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$109,323 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$108,391 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$107,900 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$105,157 · 5 yrs out
Systems Science and Theory (Bachelor's)
$101,995 · 5 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's)
$101,563 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$97,528 · 5 yrs out
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's)
$97,305 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$94,450 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$94,450 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

English Language and Literature/Letters
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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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