by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 4 U.S. colleges awarded 21 degrees and certificates in American Literature (United States). Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 76% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best American Literature (United States) 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.
Studying American Literature (United States) explores American Literature (United States). A Program That Focuses On The Literature And Literary Development, Both Formal And Folkloric, Of The United States From The Colonial Era To The Present. Includes Instruction In Period And Genre Studies, Author Studies, Literary Criticism, And Regional And Oral Traditions.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., american literature (united states) is a widely-pursued major, with 21 degrees awarded annually. 4 colleges award american literature (united states) degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 14.
By level, the 21 awards include 16 bachelor’s degrees and 5 master’s degrees.
Women earned 76% of american literature (united states) degrees and certificates in the latest year (16 of 21). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (7) and White (5), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best American Literature (United States) Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks american literature (united states) schools within 1 state. In all, 4 colleges offer american literature (united states) programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value American Literature (United States) Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common american literature (united states) credential is the bachelor’s degree: 16 of the 21 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to american literature (united states) 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 american literature (united states) degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 16 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to american literature (united states), at 58.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 58.4% |
| Master’s degree | 30.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 9.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to American Literature (United States), with an average median salary of $88,437; the strongest outlook belongs to English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, at 14.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Developmental Reading Instructor, Seventeenth-Century English Literature Professor, Composition Professor and Contemporary English Literature Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to american literature (united states), at 1,273,615.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
American Literature (United States) 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to american literature (united states), with a median salary of $88,437.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
American Literature (United States) has 4 similar majors in the English Language & Literature field, which together award 813 degrees a year; the largest are General Literature (469), English Literature (British and Commonwealth) (250) and Children’s and Adolescent Literature (74). Browse all English Language & Literature majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Literature | 469 |
| English Literature (British and Commonwealth) | 250 |
| Children’s and Adolescent Literature | 74 |
| Literature, Other | 20 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
