by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in English Literature (British & Commonwealth) involves the study of English Literature (British And Commonwealth). A Program That Focuses On The Literatures And Literary Developments Of The English-Speaking Peoples Of The British Isles And The British Commonwealth, From The Origins Of The English Language To The Present. Includes Instruction In Period And Genre Studies, Author Studies, Country And Regional Specializations, Literary Criticism, And The Study Of Folkloric Traditions. Continue reading for the key facts every english literature (british & commonwealth) major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering english literature (british & commonwealth) programs.
Nationwide, english literature (british & commonwealth) is a widely-pursued major, with 266 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best English Literature (British & Commonwealth) Schools ranking analyzes these 11 schools to determine the best overall colleges for english literature (british & commonwealth) students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of english literature (british & commonwealth) programs later in this article.
Coursework for English Literature (British & Commonwealth) emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations english literature (british & commonwealth) graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a english literature (british & commonwealth) program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a english literature (british & commonwealth) major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several english literature (british & commonwealth) 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 | 20 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 170 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 70 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
People currently working in careers related to english literature (british & commonwealth) 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 english literature (british & commonwealth) careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying english literature (british & commonwealth) opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to english literature (british & commonwealth).
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to english literature (british & commonwealth).
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of english literature (british & commonwealth) 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 english literature (british & commonwealth) graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers english literature (british & commonwealth) grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
With 11 different english literature (british & commonwealth) programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased english literature (british & commonwealth) school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in english literature (british & commonwealth), you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Literature | 396 |
| Children’s and Adolescent Literature | 55 |
| Literature, Other | 36 |
| American Literature (United States) | 30 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
