MASTER'S DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 2399

English Language and Literature/Letters, Other: is this master's degree worth it?

National picture across 3 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$50,671 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$50,671Median year-4 earnings
$24,750Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →
WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$50,671Median reported earnings · year 4
$47,569Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
3thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
3Reporting programs
3With year-4 earnings
COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

The same field can produce a different equation.

Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.

OPEN PROFILE

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings
$26,054
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
2
2 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$36,307
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
1
1 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$39,287
Federal debt
$25,500
Reporting programs
17
14 report earnings →
CURRENT VIEW

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$50,671
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
3
3 report earnings →
COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

Where the middle half of programs lands

Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.

Median
25th percentile$50,468National median$50,67175th percentile$50,671
3 programs report year‑4 earnings.
WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Rowan University$51,4182Bennington College$50,6713Hollins University$50,468

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1123 · 1 crosswalk links
BEST COLLEGES FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS, OTHER

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#CollegeLocationEarnings, year 4Federal debtROI statusCost context
1Rowan UniversityMaster's DegreeGlassboro, NJ$51,418Not availableBaseline needed$22,408
2Bennington CollegeMaster's DegreeBennington, VT$50,671Not availableBaseline needed$30,947
3Hollins UniversityMaster's DegreeRoanoke, VA$50,468Not availableBaseline needed$20,896

This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.