# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/literature
- CIP code: 23.14 (English Language and Literature/Letters)
- Colleges offering it: 73 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 | 9 | $30,933 | $56,649 | $22,000 |
| Associate's | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 73 | $34,133 | $45,749 | $21,000 |
| Master's | 19 | $55,351 | $56,706 | not reported |
| Doctoral | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 18 | 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 |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Pace University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pace-university-2053) | New York, NY | $58,051 | $23,251 |
| [American University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/american-university-69) | Washington, DC | $54,436 | $21,500 |
| [University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pittsburgh-pittsburgh-campus-3019) | Pittsburgh, PA | $45,749 | $20,500 |
| [The New School](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-new-school-2749) | New York, NY | $42,674 | $19,356 |

## 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
- [Editors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/editors): $77,920 median pay
- [Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/poets-lyricists-and-creative-writers): $76,910 median pay
- [Writers and Authors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/writers-and-authors): $76,910 median pay

## More in English Language and Literature/Letters

- [English Language and Literature, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/english-language-and-literature-general): 1,250 colleges
- [Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/rhetoric-and-composition-writing-studies): 492 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/