English
English Language & Literature · federal classification: English Language and Literature, General
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $28,460 | $21,007 to $30,411 | 11 | 18% |
| Associate's Degree | $34,868 | $29,810 to $38,218 | 14 | 43% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $48,320 | $42,680 to $54,297 | 566 | 93% |
| Master's Degree | $58,836 | $53,202 to $64,710 | 50 | 94% |
| Doctoral Degree | $61,599 | $58,028 to $67,827 | 19 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth -0% (2025 to 2035), about 69,100 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $72,040 | -0.2% | 63,500 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,760 | +0% | 4,500 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $51,120 | -0.9% | 1,100 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a english program, of 1,399 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- Southern New Hampshire University
- University of Central Florida
- Arizona State University Digital Immersion
- Florida State University
- California State University-Long Beach
- University of California-Berkeley
- University of California-Los Angeles
- Florida International University
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.