English Language and Literature at Eastern Illinois University

Eastern Illinois University's English program produces graduates who earn slightly above the national average but fall short of the typical Illinois English graduate. At $31,933 in the first year, earnings exceed the national median by about $2,000, placing the program in the 61st percentile nationally. However, within Illinois—where the median English graduate earns $32,328—this program sits at just the 40th percentile, meaning six out of ten comparable programs in the state deliver stronger first-year outcomes.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $25,053, borrowing is manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78. That's roughly in line with both state and national norms for English programs. The 19% earnings growth over four years is encouraging, bringing graduates to $38,086 by year four, though this still trails programs like Illinois State ($39,563) and substantially lags University of Chicago's $44,397. The moderate sample size suggests these numbers are reasonably reliable without being definitive.

For Illinois families, this becomes a question of alternatives. Eastern Illinois delivers predictable, middle-of-the-pack results for the state at a reasonable debt load. If your child has admission options at Illinois State or other programs in the state's top tier, those would likely offer better long-term value. But if Eastern Illinois provides the best fit academically or financially through scholarships, the debt burden won't be crushing and earnings do grow meaningfully over time.