Education
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $78,760
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Doctoral or professional degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Instructing
- Writing
ProgramsEnglish Language and Literature/Letters
Literature
CIP23.14
73 colleges offer Literature. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 73
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $45,749
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $21,000
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 9
- Associate's
- 17
- Bachelor's
- 73
- Master's
- 19
- Doctoral
- 2
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 18
What it covers
About Literature
A program that focuses on literature from one or more genres, cultures or traditions. Includes instruction in period and genre studies, author studies, literary criticism, and studies of various types of literary text.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 23.14.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 23.14.
- General Literature
- American Literature (United States)
- American Literature (Canadian)
- English Literature (British and Commonwealth)
- Children's and Adolescent Literature
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 9 | $56,6494 yrs after · 2 colleges | $22,0002 colleges |
| Associate's | 17 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 73 | $45,7494 yrs after · 8 colleges | $21,00010 colleges |
| Master's | 19 | $56,7064 yrs after · 2 colleges | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 2 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 18 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Literature graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 33 graduates
$58,051
debt $23,251
- 2
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 34 graduates
$54,436
debt $21,500
- 3
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · Public · 36 graduates
$45,749
debt $20,500
- 4
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 32 graduates
$42,674
debt $19,356
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Literature by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
Arts, design and media
Editors
- Median pay
- $77,920
- Outlook
- Decline
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Listening
Arts, design and media
Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
- Median pay
- $76,910
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
Arts, design and media
Writers and Authors
- Median pay
- $76,910
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
More in English Language and Literature/Letters
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Literature
How many colleges offer Literature?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Literature at these degree levels: certificate (9 colleges), associate's (17 colleges), bachelor's (73 colleges), master's (19 colleges), doctoral (2 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (18 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Literature graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Literature earn $45,749 a year four years after finishing, across 8 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Literature graduates earn the most?
Pace University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Literature: $58,051 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.