by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,380 U.S. colleges awarded 33,936 degrees and certificates in English. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 77% of graduates. College Factual ranks 659 schools in its 2027 Best English 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.
Studying English covers English Language And Literature, General. A General Program That Focuses On The English Language, Including Its History, Structure And Related Communications Skills; And The Literature And Culture Of English-Speaking Peoples.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., english draws strong interest, with 33,936 degrees awarded annually. 1,380 colleges award english 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 english 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 English Schools ranking, including 89 for associate degrees, 559 for bachelor’s degrees, 108 for master’s degrees and 30 for doctorates. It also ranks english schools within 52 states. In all, 1,380 colleges offer english programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value English Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common english credential is the bachelor’s degree: 26,117 of the 33,936 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to english 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.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an english 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 english, 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 English, 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 Language Arts Teacher, English Teacher, English Instructor and Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to english, 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% |
English 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 english, 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 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
