by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 60 U.S. colleges awarded 469 degrees and certificates in General Literature. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 69% of graduates. College Factual ranks 11 schools in its 2027 Best General Literature Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $24,997 one year after completing, rising to $49,754 after four years.
A degree in General Literature involves the study of General Literature. A Program That Focuses On Literature From One Or More Genres, Cultures Or Traditions. Includes Instruction In Period And Genre Studies, Author Studies, Literary Criticism, And Studies Of Various Types Of Literary Text. Examples: [Literary Studies].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, general literature draws strong interest, with 469 degrees awarded annually. 60 colleges award general literature degrees, an average of 8 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 50.
By level, the 469 awards include 76 associate degrees, 325 bachelor’s degrees and 68 master’s degrees.
Women earned 76% of general literature degrees and certificates in the latest year (359 of 469). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (327) and Hispanic or Latino (55), and international students earned 22.
College Factual ranks 11 schools in its 2027 Best General Literature Schools ranking, including 8 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks general literature schools within 7 states. In all, 60 colleges offer general literature programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Literature Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general literature credential is the bachelor’s degree: 325 of the 469 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general literature call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Instructing, and for knowledge of English Language, Communications and Media and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general literature degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 76 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 325 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 68 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general literature, at 44.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.9% |
| Master’s degree | 24.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 8.9% |
| Some college courses | 7.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.0% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to General Literature, with an average median salary of $80,649; the strongest outlook belongs to English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, at 14.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Writing Instructor, Lecturer, English Adjunct Instructor and College Faculty Member.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to general literature, at 1,273,615.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 175,767 | 9.1% |
| Writers and Authors | 155,629 | -4.3% |
| Editors | 11,763 | 3.2% |
General Literature graduates earn a median $24,997 one year after completing their program, $49,754 after four years and $49,276 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,997 |
| 4 years | $49,754 |
| 5 years | $49,276 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general literature is Editors, with a median salary of $100,346.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Editors | $100,346 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | $70,619 |
| Writers and Authors | $63,195 |
General Literature has 4 similar majors in the English Language & Literature field, which together award 365 degrees a year; the largest are English Literature (British and Commonwealth) (250), Children’s and Adolescent Literature (74) and American Literature (United States) (21). Browse all English Language & Literature majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| English Literature (British and Commonwealth) | 250 |
| Children’s and Adolescent Literature | 74 |
| American Literature (United States) | 21 |
| Literature, Other | 20 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
