by our College Data Analytics TeamDiscover the essential details every cultural studies and comparative literature major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering cultural studies and comparative literature programs.
Across the country, cultural studies and comparative literature is a widely-pursued major, with 24 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature Schools ranking analyzes these 4 schools to determine the best overall colleges for cultural studies and comparative literature students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of cultural studies and comparative literature programs later in this article.
Studies in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations cultural studies and comparative literature graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a cultural studies and comparative literature program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a cultural studies and comparative literature major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several cultural studies and comparative literature degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 10 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to cultural studies and comparative literature tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 45.0% |
| Master’s degree | 24.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 18.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 4.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in cultural studies and comparative literature careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in cultural studies and comparative literature can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to cultural studies and comparative literature.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to cultural studies and comparative literature.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
Salaries for cultural studies and comparative literature graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers cultural studies and comparative literature grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 4 different cultural studies and comparative literature programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased cultural studies and comparative literature school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in cultural studies and comparative literature, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature | 24 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 30,141 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 28,033 |
| Data Analytics | 12,891 |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 10,355 |
| Data Science | 7,716 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5,740 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 5,456 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 5,391 |
| Sustainability Studies | 4,374 |
| Cognitive Science | 3,121 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
