by our College Data Analytics TeamHamlet, War and Peace, The Great Gatsby, Ulysses, The Grapes of Wrath: these novels have made an impact on societies for decades. Majoring in Literature will allow you to read and analyze these great works while learning about the culture and history of the time they were written.
A major in Literature involves the study of cultures, traditions, history, and genres of influential literature. Some of the concentrations you could choose are American Literature, Canadian Literature, British Literature, and Children's Literature. While all these concentrations focus on different time periods or subjects, there are some courses in common. All students will take literary criticisms, author studies, period and genre studies, and regional and oral traditions.
Studying Literature involves the study of Literature. Read on to learn the important information every literature major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering literature programs.
Across the country, literature is a widely-pursued major, with 783 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Literature Schools ranking analyzes these 85 schools to determine the best overall colleges for literature students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of literature programs later in this article.
Studies in Literature build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations literature graduates commonly enter.
This major involves a lot of reading and is ideal for the student who doesn't mind days on end in the library. Attention for detail is critical as you analyze and make connections between different works. Class discussion is another key component of this major, making strong communication skills essential. Work on being able to express your ideas and insights clearly through both written and oral communication.
Creativity and independent thought will serve you well as you pursue this major. There will be some group projects but the majority of assignments will be individual work. By the end of your years of study you will become familiar with writing long and detailed research papers. Some students further their education to obtain a Master of Literature.
Skills emphasized by a literature program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a literature major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several literature 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 74 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 499 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 202 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 8 |
People currently working in careers related to literature tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 50.7% |
| Master’s degree | 27.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 9.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.3% |
| Some college courses | 4.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in literature careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Many students who study literature are interested in education and go on to become a secondary or postsecondary teacher, or a college professor. Some grads are also interested in becoming a Librarian, Library Assistant is possible or Archivist. Becoming a teacher or a librarian requires a Master's Degree, while teaching at the college level usually requires a Ph.D.
If you enjoy writing, becoming a journalist or writer is another option. Graduates can also successfully find jobs in the business world in marketing, advertising, public relations or copy writing.
A degree in literature opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to literature.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to literature.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 175,767 | 9.1% |
| Writers and Authors | 155,629 | -4.3% |
| Editors | 11,763 | 3.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of literature graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,997 |
| 4 years | $42,308 |
| 5 years | $49,276 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for literature graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers literature grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Editors | $100,346 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | $70,619 |
| Writers and Authors | $63,195 |
With 85 different literature programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased literature school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in literature, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Literature | 396 |
| English Literature (British and Commonwealth) | 266 |
| Children’s and Adolescent Literature | 55 |
| Literature, Other | 36 |
| American Literature (United States) | 30 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General | 34,210 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 12,869 |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | 1,064 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
