WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)+5% vs national median238 grads tracked

English Language and Literature/Letters at University of Wisconsin - Madison

Ranked 14th of 56 doctoral (research) programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$62,818
middle 50%: $49,551 – $80,886
Median · 5 years out
$78,090
middle 50%: $64,930 – $90,499
Median · 10 years out
$91,184
middle 50%: $70,527 – $110,369

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for English Language and Literature/Letters (doctoral (research)) graduates.

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

Graduates of University of Wisconsin - Madison's doctoral (research) program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $62,818 one year after graduating, rising to $91,184 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 5% above the national median of $74,110 for this field, ranking 14th of 56 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
5.1 yrs
≈ $5,493 total interest

Same major at other universities

Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$81,462 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$80,729 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$80,415 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$79,247 · 5 yrs out
Bowling Green State University
$78,709 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$78,199 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$77,524 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$77,321 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$76,701 · 5 yrs out
Illinois State University
$76,680 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$75,655 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$74,872 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Wisconsin - Madison

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$227,440 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$191,060 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$179,858 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$176,530 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,901 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$153,036 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$140,310 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$139,926 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$134,767 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$133,218 · 5 yrs out
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's)
$127,595 · 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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