by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying American Literature (United States) explores American Literature (United States). A Program That Focuses On The Literature And Literary Development, Both Formal And Folkloric, Of The United States From The Colonial Era To The Present. Includes Instruction In Period And Genre Studies, Author Studies, Literary Criticism, And Regional And Oral Traditions. Continue reading for the essential details every american literature (united states) student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering american literature (united states) programs.
In the U.S., american literature (united states) is a widely-pursued major, with 30 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best American Literature (United States) Schools ranking analyzes these 3 schools to determine the best overall colleges for american literature (united states) students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of american literature (united states) programs later in this article.
Studies in American Literature (United States) develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations american literature (united states) graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a american literature (united states) program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a american literature (united states) major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several american literature (united states) 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 21 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9 |
People currently working in careers related to american literature (united states) tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 58.4% |
| Master’s degree | 30.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 9.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in american literature (united states) careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in american literature (united states) can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to american literature (united states).
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to american literature (united states).
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of american literature (united states) graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 american literature (united states) graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers american literature (united states) grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
With 3 different american literature (united states) programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased american literature (united states) school rankings to help you.
Those considering american literature (united states), you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Literature | 396 |
| English Literature (British and Commonwealth) | 266 |
| Children’s and Adolescent Literature | 55 |
| Literature, Other | 36 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
