2022 Comparative Literature Degree Guide
Comparative Literature Degrees Shrinking in Popularity
Comparative Literature was the 400th most popular major in the 2019-2020 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 1,093 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 1.8% reduction in comparative literature degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 1,113.
The United States has 104 different schools where you can get a degree in comparative literature. Our 2022 Best Comparative Literature Schools ranking analyzes 63 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for comparative literature students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of comparative literature programs later in this article.
Best Comparative Literature Schools by Degree
What Are The Requirements For a Degree in Comparative Literature
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is a required skill for comparative literature majors. Required skills include teaching others how to do something and communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Comparative Literature Degree Program Entry Requirements
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic comparative literature program qualifications, to serve in some comparative literature careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Comparative Literature Degree Types
Comparative Literature degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in comparative literature to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a comparative literature degree varies depending on the program.
Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
---|---|---|
Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to comparative literature, with approximately 58.4% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for comparative literature workers below.
Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
Doctoral Degree | 60.5% |
Master’s Degree | 31.5% |
Less than a High School Diploma | 10.0% |
Post-Master’s Certificate | 1.3% |
Post-Doctoral Training | 0.3% |
About 58.7% of workers in careers related to comparative literature obtain at least doctor's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in comparative literature have obtained.

The education level required is different depending on the comparative literature career you are seeking.
Career Opportunities for Comparative Literature Majors
Solid Growth Projected for Comparative Literature Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your comparative literature degree? Comparative Literature careers are expected to grow 9.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to comparative literature.
Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
---|---|---|
English Language and Literature Professors | 92,900 | 9.8% |
How Much Money Do People With a Comparative Literature Degree Make?
As you might expect, salaries for comparative literature graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Highest Paid Comparative Literature Careers
Salaries for comparative literature graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers comparative literature grads often go into.
Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
---|---|
English Language and Literature Professors | $78,150 |
Getting Your Comparative Literature Degree
With over 234 different comparative literature degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased comparative literature school rankings to help you with this.
Top Ranking Lists for Comparative Literature
Majors Related to Comparative Literature
One of 5 majors within the Linguistics & Comparative Literature area of study, Comparative Literature has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Majors Related to Comparative Literature
Related Major | Annual Graduates |
---|---|
Linguistics | 3,129 |
Modern Languages | 3,075 |
Language Translation | 874 |
Other Linguistic, Comparative, & Related Language Studies & Services | 351 |
Applied Linguistics | 163 |
View All Comparative Literature Related Majors >
References
-
Image Credit: By Pandit Rahul Sanskrutayan, Banshidhar Mohanty under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Foreign Language Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |