by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 53 U.S. colleges awarded 932 degrees and certificates in English Literature (Other). Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 65% of graduates. College Factual ranks 20 schools in its 2027 Best English Literature (Other) Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $30,110 one year after completing, rising to $45,362 after four years.
An English Major includes a broad education in many subjects. This major provides a great education for the student who may not have a specific career path in mind.
However, Students can also choose to specialize in a subject such as British Literature, Children's Literature, or even African Literature, Environmental Literature, Classic Studies, Journalism or Film Studies. In this major you will learn critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. You will work with many different types of prose and poetry to ensure a rounded education.
Classes will range depending on the focus of your major. Classes you can expect to come across include: introduction to literature, tragedy and comedy, classic Greek, survey of British literature, survey of American literature, and the history of the English language.
A degree in English Literature (Other) covers English Language And Literature/letters, Other.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., english literature (other) is a widely-pursued major, with 932 degrees awarded annually. 53 colleges award english literature (other) degrees, an average of 18 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 198.
By level, the 932 awards include 25 certificates, 120 associate degrees, 610 bachelor’s degrees, 163 master’s degrees and 14 doctorates.
Women earned 71% of english literature (other) degrees and certificates in the latest year (663 of 932). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (516) and Hispanic or Latino (131), and international students earned 32.
College Factual ranks 20 schools in its 2027 Best English Literature (Other) Schools ranking, including 11 for bachelor’s degrees and 5 for master’s degrees. It also ranks english literature (other) schools within 8 states. In all, 53 colleges offer english literature (other) programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value English Literature (Other) Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common english literature (other) credential is the bachelor’s degree: 610 of the 932 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to english literature (other) 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.
It should be no surprise to you that communication skills are very important in this major. An English Major involves tons of reading, writing, and analyzing texts. Employ good time management skills to get through all your reading and writing assignments, or you may end up finishing a paper due the next day at 5AM.
Creativity will help you find new angles when writing your papers. There is no single interpretation for a piece of text. If you like black and white answers this is not a major for you. You should be ready to take unconventional approaches and think outside the box. This will allow you to grow and develop your own opinions rather than relying on your professor's interpretation of the work.
English majors do a lot of research, writing, re-writing and editing. By the time you are finished your writing skills will be well developed. Learn to take constructive criticism to make your work better. These skills are valued in almost any career field.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an english literature (other) degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 25 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 120 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 610 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 163 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 14 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to english literature (other), 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 English Literature (Other), 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 Professor, Adjunct English Instructor, Classics Teacher and Associate Professor.
This degree will allow you to go in multiple fields. You can easily continue your education to become a teacher or a professor who specializes in a certain area of English. Students may also choose to go to Law school or obtain an Master of Business or Marketing. The skills you learn in your English classes will be easily transferable. Aside from education, many graduates work in writing, publishing, editing, copyrighting, advertising, media or sales.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to english literature (other), at 1,273,615.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
English Literature (Other) graduates earn a median $30,110 one year after completing their program, $45,362 after four years and $46,239 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $30,110 |
| 4 years | $45,362 |
| 5 years | $46,239 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to english literature (other), with a median salary of $88,437.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
English Literature (Other) includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is English Language and Literature/Letters, Other (932). It has 3 similar majors in the English Language & Literature field, which together award 48,639 degrees a year; the largest are English Language and Literature, General (33,936), Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (13,869) and Literature (834). Browse all English Language & Literature majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | 932 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General | 33,936 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 13,869 |
| Literature | 834 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
