by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,380 U.S. colleges awarded 33,936 degrees and certificates in General English Literature. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 77% of graduates. College Factual ranks 659 schools in its 2027 Best General English Literature Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $31,123 one year after completing, rising to $49,068 after four years.
Do you love to lose yourself in a good book? If so, then English Language Literature may be the right major for you. Students study different types of literature from around the world. You will read a lot of different genres and authors. After exposing yourself to many different books, stories, poems, plays, and excerpts, you will develop skills to analyze them and research to support your opinions. You will think critically as you read and write when you examine the author, culture, time period, and genre of these incredible literary works.
Classes will vary depending on the university in which you attend. Typical English language literature will include both British and American literature, the history of the English language, children's literature, Shakespeare, literary criticism, time period literature, environmental literature, literature by ethnic minorities, literature by women, and poetry.
Studying General English Literature involves the study of English Language And Literature, General.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., general english literature is a popular field of study, with 33,936 degrees awarded annually. 1,380 colleges award general english literature degrees, an average of 25 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 511.
By level, the 33,936 awards include 1 certificates, 2,711 associate degrees, 26,117 bachelor’s degrees, 4,182 master’s degrees and 924 doctorates.
Women earned 74% of general english literature degrees and certificates in the latest year (25,135 of 33,936). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (20,085) and Hispanic or Latino (6,513), and international students earned 700.
College Factual ranks 659 schools in its 2027 Best General English Literature Schools ranking, including 89 for associate degrees, 559 for bachelor’s degrees, 108 for master’s degrees and 30 for doctorates. It also ranks general english literature schools within 52 states. In all, 1,380 colleges offer general english literature programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General English Literature Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general english literature credential is the bachelor’s degree: 26,117 of the 33,936 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general english literature call most for Reading Comprehension, Instructing and Writing, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Communications and Media, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
A passion for literature is crucial for success. You should love finding the deeper meaning in books, stories, plays, and poems. You will read, discuss, and write about various forms of literature in your classes. Be open to subjects that you do not necessarily excel in, one example is poetry. Your professors will help you learn how to analyze and understand new genres. Studying literature will open your mind to new perspectives and points of view. Classes will include discussion of literary works using examples from the text to back up your conclusions.
English majors spend the majority of their time reading, researching, writing, rewriting, and editing. Creativity and writing skills will help you finish your writing assignments, while time management skills will help you stay on top of your reading. Most assignments will be worked on individually with the occasional group project. Don't hesitate to start a study group with classmates to better understand difficult literature.
Any sort of experience writing and researching will help you in your classes and future career. Get involved in your school newspaper or yearbook, or volunteer as a peer tutor.
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How long a general english literature degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,711 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 26,117 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,182 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 924 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general english literature, at 33.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 33.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.9% |
| Master’s degree | 18.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| Some college courses | 1.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to General English Literature, with an average median salary of $65,622; the strongest outlook belongs to English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, at 14.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include English Instructor, Teacher, Language Arts Teacher and English Teacher.
There are many career opportunities for someone with an English Language Literature degree. You can go into almost any graduate program with a background in English because of your strong reading, writing, and thinking skills. If you love to write you could become a book author, write scripts for plays or television shows, poetry, magazines, or newspapers, find a job doing technical writing or even public relations. You would also be well-prepared to teach English at the middle and high school level or continue your education to become a university professor.
Employers tend to like English majors due to their superior critical thinking skills. Graduates have successfully found work in untraditional fields such as business, sales, entrepreneurship, marketing, social work or personal services.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to general english literature, at 1,273,615.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | 284,430 | 0.7% |
General English Literature graduates earn a median $31,123 one year after completing their program, $49,068 after four years and $48,032 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $31,123 |
| 4 years | $49,068 |
| 5 years | $48,032 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to general english literature, with a median salary of $88,437.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $30,503 |
General English Literature includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is English Language and Literature, General (33,936). It has 3 similar majors in the English Language & Literature field, which together award 15,635 degrees a year; the largest are Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (13,869), English Language and Literature/Letters, Other (932) and Literature (834). Browse all English Language & Literature majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General | 33,936 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 13,869 |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | 932 |
| Literature | 834 |
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