WhatGradsMake
Master's-12% vs national median101 grads tracked

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

Ranked 151st of 183 master's programs in English Language and Literature/Letters by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$40,170
middle 50%: $29,637 – $56,406
Median · 5 years out
$53,536
middle 50%: $36,827 – $77,115
Median · 10 years out
$67,987
middle 50%: $52,212 – $85,945

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 University of Wisconsin - Madison's master's program in English Language and Literature/Letters earn a median $40,170 one year after graduating, rising to $67,987 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 12% below the national median of $60,738 for this field, ranking 151st 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
7.7 yrs
≈ $8,843 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Missouri - Columbia
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota State University
$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 Toledo
$53,455 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$53,391 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$53,384 · 5 yrs out
University of South Dakota
$52,950 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$52,860 · 5 yrs out
Georgia College & State University
$52,839 · 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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