Literature
English Language & Literature
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $44,212 | $33,416 to $50,474 | 8 | 75% |
"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 24,300 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writers and Authors | $76,910 | -0.3% | 11,900 |
| Editors | $77,920 | -1.1% | 7,900 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,760 | +0% | 4,500 |
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 literature program, of 83 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- New York University
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
- The University of the South
- Pace University
- Bennington College
- The New School
- George Mason University
- Northern Arizona 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.