Best colleges for English Language and Literature in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Chicago, Illinois State University and University of Illinois Springfield are the top bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. University of Chicago leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,397, College Scorecard. Illinois State University, University of Illinois Chicago and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign award the most English Language and Literature degrees in Illinois: 105, 97 and 92 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 45 Illinois colleges offer English Language and Literature and award 953 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The English Language and Literature program, also known as English studies, focuses on the study, analysis, and exploration of English literature through various texts. This program is designed for students interested in deepening their…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,397 | 31 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 2 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,563 | 105 | 65% | — | $23,125 |
| 3 | University of Illinois Springfield Springfield Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,358 | 22 | 53% | — | $32,574 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,031 | 92 | 85% | — | $20,961 |
| 5 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,122 | 59 | 49% | — | $25,375 |
| 6 | Wheaton College Wheaton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,723 | 44 | 85% | $23,461 | $21,500 |
| 7 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,933 | 66 | 47% | — | $25,053 |
| 8 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,748 | 49 | 95% | $14,799 | $15,564 |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,420 | 43 | 57% | — | $25,250 |
| 10 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,066 | 97 | 62% | — | $18,750 |
Colleges awarding the most English Language and Literature degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 105 | $39,563 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 97 | $31,066 |
| 3 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 92 | $37,031 |
| 4 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public | 66 | $31,933 |
| 5 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 63 | $28,660 |
| 6 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 59 | $34,122 |
| 7 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 51 | $28,640 |
| 8 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 49 | $31,748 |
| 9 | Wheaton College Wheaton Private not-for-profit | 44 | $32,723 |
| 10 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 43 | $31,420 |
ShowHide the other 35 Illinois colleges offering English Language and Literature
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 31 |
| University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | Public | 22 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 21 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 20 |
| Southern Illinois University - Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 16 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Columbia College Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 12 |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Illinois College | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Concordia University - Chicago | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Knox College | Galesburg | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Rockford University | Rockford | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| East-West University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Eureka College | Eureka | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| McKendree University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| University of St Francis | Joliet | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 3 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Quincy University | Quincy | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Greenville University | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Proofreaders and Copy Markers (SOC 43-9081).
Top skills
What Proofreaders and Copy Markers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing English Language and Literature programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most English Language and Literature degrees?+
Illinois State University (105 graduates a year), University of Illinois Chicago (97 graduates a year) and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (92 graduates a year) award the most English Language and Literature degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 45 Illinois colleges offer English Language and Literature.
What is the best college for English Language and Literature in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, University of Chicago leads among bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,397, College Scorecard. Illinois State University and University of Illinois Springfield follow. By degrees awarded, Illinois State University is the largest, with 105 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which English Language and Literature program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Chicago tops the list at $44,397. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Proofreaders and Copy Markers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Proofreaders and Copy Markers in Illinois is $52,010 (median $50,060), across about 300 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the English Language and Literature program?+
The English Language and Literature program, also known as English studies, focuses on the study, analysis, and exploration of English literature through various texts. This program is designed for students interested in deepening their…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, writing, speaking, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Proofreaders and Copy Markers?+
The national job outlook is about -0.6% growth with around 1,900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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