English Language and Literature at University of Illinois Chicago

UIC's English program starts graduates at $31,066—slightly below the Illinois median but above the national average. What matters more is where graduates end up: four years out, median earnings hit $42,679, representing 37% growth that outpaces most English programs. Among Illinois schools, only the elite University of Chicago and a handful of regional universities show stronger outcomes, and those come with significantly higher admission standards or debt loads.

The debt picture here is unusually favorable. At $18,750, graduates owe about $5,000 less than typical Illinois English majors and nearly $6,000 below the national median. This creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60—meaning graduates owe less than eight months of their first-year salary. For a humanities program serving a heavily Pell-eligible student body (50%), these are genuinely accessible terms.

The trade-off is clear: you're not getting University of Chicago outcomes (where English grads start at $44,000), but you're also not paying University of Chicago prices or competing with their 5% admission rate. For students who need to stay in Chicago, particularly those from working-class backgrounds, this program delivers solid English training with real earnings growth potential and debt that won't dominate their twenties.