Compare 18 English Language and Literature, General. programs in Wisconsin. Average earnings: $36,979.
The highest-earning English Language and Literature, General. program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $26K earnings gap across 18 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Marquette University's English program leads with graduates earning $49,689, well above the $37,000 state average. But UW-Madison follows closely at $47,090 with a much larger cohort of 126 students, proving that both private and public programs can deliver strong outcomes in this field.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | $49,689 | 11 | $23,940 | Manageable | $45,500 | High |
| #2 | $47,090 | 126 | $20,484 | Good | $28,364 | High | |
| #3 | $44,660 | 55 | $22,500 | Manageable | $16,958 | High | |
| #4 | $42,430 | 31 | $18,500 | Manageable | $13,480 | Challenging | |
| #5 | $41,851 | 23 | $20,500 | Manageable | $14,500 | High | |
| #6 | Beloit CollegePrivate | $41,478 | 7 | $25,738 | Challenging | $32,004 | High |
| #7 | $40,451 | 70 | $20,909 | Manageable | $12,452 | High | |
| #8 | Saint Norbert CollegePrivate | $39,347 | 13 | $26,731 | Challenging | $37,792 | High |
| #9 | $38,782 | 46 | $23,188 | Challenging | $18,635 | High | |
| #10 | Lawrence UniversityPrivate | $38,780 | 22 | $26,000 | Challenging | $59,814 | High |
| #11 | $36,878 | 114 | $23,000 | Challenging | $16,149 | High | |
| #12 | $35,261 | 37 | $21,503 | Challenging | $14,012 | High | |
| #13 | Carthage CollegePrivate | $33,745 | 20 | $26,000 | High | $42,940 | High |
| #14 | Ripon CollegePrivate | $31,838 | 6 | $27,000 | High | $28,995 | High |
| #15 | Carroll UniversityPrivate | $29,685 | 6 | $27,000 | High | $32,186 | High |
| #16 | $25,194 | 25 | $21,500 | High | $13,500 | High | |
| #17 | Edgewood CollegePrivate | $24,421 | 5 | $24,424 | High | $20,000 | High |
| #18 | $24,035 | 7 | $22,500 | High | $12,006 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
