by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 83 U.S. colleges awarded 834 degrees and certificates in Literature. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 62% of graduates. College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best 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.
Hamlet, War and Peace, The Great Gatsby, Ulysses, The Grapes of Wrath: these novels have made an impact on societies for decades. Majoring in Literature will allow you to read and analyze these great works while learning about the culture and history of the time they were written.
A major in Literature involves the study of cultures, traditions, history, and genres of influential literature. Some of the concentrations you could choose are American Literature, Canadian Literature, British Literature, and Children's Literature. While all these concentrations focus on different time periods or subjects, there are some courses in common. All students will take literary criticisms, author studies, period and genre studies, and regional and oral traditions.
Studying Literature involves the study of Literature.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, literature is a widely-pursued major, with 834 degrees awarded annually. 83 colleges award literature degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 115.
By level, the 834 awards include 95 associate degrees, 520 bachelor’s degrees, 209 master’s degrees and 10 doctorates.
Women earned 77% of literature degrees and certificates in the latest year (641 of 834). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (527) and Hispanic or Latino (124), and international students earned 42.
College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Literature Schools ranking, including 12 for bachelor’s degrees and 4 for master’s degrees. It also ranks literature schools within 10 states. In all, 83 colleges offer literature programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Literature Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common literature credential is the bachelor’s degree: 520 of the 834 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to 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 Written Expression.
This major involves a lot of reading and is ideal for the student who doesn't mind days on end in the library. Attention for detail is critical as you analyze and make connections between different works. Class discussion is another key component of this major, making strong communication skills essential. Work on being able to express your ideas and insights clearly through both written and oral communication.
Creativity and independent thought will serve you well as you pursue this major. There will be some group projects but the majority of assignments will be individual work. By the end of your years of study you will become familiar with writing long and detailed research papers. Some students further their education to obtain a Master of Literature.
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How long a literature degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 95 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 520 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 209 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 10 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to literature, at 50.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 50.7% |
| Master’s degree | 27.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 9.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.3% |
| Some college courses | 4.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to 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 Literature Professor, Adjunct English Instructor, Reading Professor and Literature Instructor.
Many students who study literature are interested in education and go on to become a secondary or postsecondary teacher, or a college professor. Some grads are also interested in becoming a Librarian, Library Assistant is possible or Archivist. Becoming a teacher or a librarian requires a Master's Degree, while teaching at the college level usually requires a Ph.D.
If you enjoy writing, becoming a journalist or writer is another option. Graduates can also successfully find jobs in the business world in marketing, advertising, public relations or copy writing.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to 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% |
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 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 |
Literature includes 5 concentrations that together award 834 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are General Literature (469), English Literature (British and Commonwealth) (250) and Children’s and Adolescent Literature (74). It has 3 similar majors in the English Language & Literature field, which together award 48,737 degrees a year; the largest are English Language and Literature, General (33,936), Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (13,869) and English Language and Literature/Letters, Other (932). Browse all English Language & Literature majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Literature | 469 |
| English Literature (British and Commonwealth) | 250 |
| Children’s and Adolescent Literature | 74 |
| American Literature (United States) | 21 |
| Literature, Other | 20 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General | 33,936 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 13,869 |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | 932 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
