by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying English covers 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. Continue reading for the essential details every english student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering english programs.
In the U.S., english draws strong interest, with 34,210 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best English Schools ranking analyzes these 1,374 schools to determine the best overall colleges for english students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of english programs later in this article.
Programs in English emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations english graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a english program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a english major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several english degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 27 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,706 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 26,315 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,222 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 940 |
People currently working in careers related to english tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 33.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.9% |
| Master’s degree | 18.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| Some college courses | 1.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in english careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in english prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to english.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to english.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | 284,430 | 0.7% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of english graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $30,969 |
| 4 years | $41,218 |
| 5 years | $47,515 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for english graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers english grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $30,503 |
With 1,374 different english programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased english school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
