WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+30% vs national median69 grads tracked

English Language and Literature, General at Washington and Lee University

Ranked 3rd of 370 bachelor's programs in English Language and Literature, General by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$28,422
middle 50%: $22,130 – $41,525
Median · 5 years out
$67,936
middle 50%: $51,627 – $99,308
Median · 10 years out
$103,697
middle 50%: $67,675 – $168,820

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 Washington and Lee University's bachelor's program in English Language and Literature, General earn a median $28,422 one year after graduating, rising to $103,697 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 30% above the national median of $52,222 for this field, ranking 3rd 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
6.9 yrs
≈ $8,797 total interest

Same major at other universities

Providence College
$69,644 · 5 yrs out
Fairfield University
$68,702 · 5 yrs out
Spelman College
$66,665 · 5 yrs out
Quinnipiac University
$66,358 · 5 yrs out
Sacred Heart University
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Texas Southern University
$65,081 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Military Institute
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$64,593 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Washington and Lee University

Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$120,727 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$120,727 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$117,024 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$117,024 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$111,605 · 5 yrs out
Economics (Bachelor's)
$108,900 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Bachelor's)
$107,690 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's)
$104,558 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Bachelor's)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Bachelor's)
$88,696 · 5 yrs out
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's)
$80,325 · 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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