by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 77 U.S. colleges awarded 987 degrees and certificates in Comparative Literature. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 67% of graduates. College Factual ranks 28 schools in its 2027 Best Comparative Literature Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $28,314 one year after completing, rising to $53,106 after four years.
Studying Comparative Literature involves the study of Comparative Literature. A Program That Focuses On Two Or More Literary Traditions In The Original Languages Or In Translation. Includes Instruction In Comparative Linguistics; Applicable Foreign Languages; English/french Language And Literature; Literary Criticism; And Applications To Genre, Period, National, And Textual Studies As Well As Literary Forms Such As Poetry, Prose, And Drama.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., comparative literature draws strong interest, with 987 degrees awarded annually. 77 colleges award comparative literature degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 124.
By level, the 987 awards include 660 bachelor’s degrees, 168 master’s degrees and 159 doctorates.
Women earned 70% of comparative literature degrees and certificates in the latest year (687 of 987). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (379) and Hispanic or Latino (186), and international students earned 196.
College Factual ranks 28 schools in its 2027 Best Comparative Literature Schools ranking, including 17 for bachelor’s degrees, 5 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks comparative literature schools within 9 states. In all, 77 colleges offer comparative literature programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Comparative Literature Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common comparative literature credential is the bachelor’s degree: 660 of the 987 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to comparative 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 Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a comparative literature degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 660 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 168 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 159 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to comparative literature, 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 Comparative Literature, 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 Instructor, English Composition Instructor, English Teacher and Adjunct Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to comparative literature, at 1,273,615.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
Comparative Literature graduates earn a median $28,314 one year after completing their program, $53,106 after four years and $52,214 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,314 |
| 4 years | $53,106 |
| 5 years | $52,214 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to comparative literature, with a median salary of $88,437.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
Comparative Literature has 5 similar majors in the Foreign Languages & Linguistics field, which together award 6,433 degrees a year; the largest are Linguistics (2,794), Foreign Languages and Literatures, General (2,280) and Language Interpretation and Translation (876). Browse all Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Linguistics | 2,794 |
| Foreign Languages and Literatures, General | 2,280 |
| Language Interpretation and Translation | 876 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other | 308 |
| Applied Linguistics | 175 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
