# English Language and Literature, General

> A general program that focuses on the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills; and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/english-language-and-literature-general
- CIP code: 23.01 (English Language and Literature/Letters)
- Colleges offering it: 1,250 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 58 | $28,999 | $29,092 | $19,457 |
| Associate's | 277 | $35,330 | $34,867 | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 1,250 | $37,017 | $48,773 | $20,000 |
| Master's | 411 | $51,422 | $61,269 | $32,606 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 142 | $62,168 | $66,586 | $48,402 |
| First professional | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 66 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | Stanford, CA | $82,036 | not reported |
| [Seattle University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/seattle-university-2393) | Seattle, WA | $78,906 | not reported |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | Washington, DC | $78,370 | $15,625 |
| [University of Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-chicago-2895) | Chicago, IL | $78,169 | not reported |
| [Wake Forest University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wake-forest-university-3149) | Winston-Salem, NC | $77,847 | $19,500 |
| [College of the Holy Cross](https://www.collegesref.com/college/college-of-the-holy-cross-626) | Worcester, MA | $74,214 | $23,000 |
| [Howard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/howard-university-1239) | Washington, DC | $73,929 | $25,500 |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Providence, RI | $73,497 | $11,539 |
| [Lehigh University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lehigh-university-1472) | Bethlehem, PA | $71,474 | not reported |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Washington, DC | $70,766 | $23,750 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/english-language-and-literature-teachers-postsecondary): $78,760 median pay
- [Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/secondary-school-teachers-except-special-and-career-technical-education): $72,040 median pay
- [Proofreaders and Copy Markers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/proofreaders-and-copy-markers): $51,120 median pay

## More in English Language and Literature/Letters

- [Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/rhetoric-and-composition-writing-studies): 492 colleges
- [Literature](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/literature): 73 colleges
- [English Language and Literature/Letters, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/english-language-and-literature-letters-other): 55 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/