English Language and Literature, General bachelor's degree programs in Illinois
Compare 21 reporting programs using the same federal field and bachelor's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.
Highest reported earnings in Illinois
Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.
1University of ChicagoChicago · Debt not reported$78,1692Northwestern UniversityEvanston · $15,564 federal debt$62,1473Lake Forest CollegeLake Forest · $23,250 federal debt$58,9014Loyola University ChicagoChicago · $26,000 federal debt$56,2895University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign · $20,961 federal debt$54,5706Wheaton CollegeWheaton · $21,500 federal debt$52,6477DePaul UniversityChicago · $23,499 federal debt$52,6088Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington · Debt not reported$51,1079Governors State UniversityUniversity Park · $22,520 federal debt$50,42610Northeastern Illinois UniversityChicago · $19,000 federal debt$49,141
CAREER CONTEXT IN IL
What related occupations pay in Illinois
These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.
25-2031Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- State median wage
- $79,990
- Middle 50% wage range
- $62,330–$104,670
- State employment
- 44,670
- Projected growth
- -0.2%
- Annual openings
- 63,500
25-1123English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
- State median wage
- $77,570
- Middle 50% wage range
- $51,090–$102,600
- State employment
- 2,570
- Projected growth
- 0.0%
- Annual openings
- 4,500
43-9081Proofreaders and Copy Markers
- State median wage
- $50,060
- Middle 50% wage range
- $37,770–$59,350
- State employment
- 300
- Projected growth
- -0.9%
- Annual openings
- 1,100
Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in Illinois; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.
ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS
Compare every available outcome
Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.
| # | College | City | Median year-4 earnings | Median federal debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Chicago | Chicago | $78,169 | Not available |
| 2 | Northwestern University | Evanston | $62,147 | $15,564 |
| 3 | Lake Forest College | Lake Forest | $58,901 | $23,250 |
| 4 | Loyola University Chicago | Chicago | $56,289 | $26,000 |
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign | $54,570 | $20,961 |
| 6 | Wheaton College | Wheaton | $52,647 | $21,500 |
| 7 | DePaul University | Chicago | $52,608 | $23,499 |
| 8 | Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | $51,107 | Not available |
| 9 | Governors State University | University Park | $50,426 | $22,520 |
| 10 | Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | $49,141 | $19,000 |
| 11 | University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago | $48,442 | $18,750 |
| 12 | University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | $48,196 | $32,574 |
| 13 | Northern Illinois University | Dekalb | $47,981 | $25,375 |
| 14 | Illinois State University | Normal | $47,445 | $23,125 |
| 15 | Eastern Illinois University | Charleston | $47,222 | $25,053 |
| 16 | Dominican University | River Forest | $46,780 | Not available |
| 17 | Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | $46,021 | $19,500 |
| 18 | Augustana College | Rock Island | $43,492 | $26,759 |
| 19 | Western Illinois University | Macomb | $41,984 | $23,750 |
| 20 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville | $41,310 | $25,250 |
| 21 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Carbondale | $37,786 | $26,500 |
This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.
A quick read on English Language and Literature, General in Illinois
What do English Language and Literature, General bachelor's degree graduates earn in Illinois?
Across 21 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $48,442 four years after completion.
How much federal debt is reported for these programs?
The median is $23,250 among the 18 programs reporting federal debt.
Which Illinois colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?
The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. University of Chicago has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.