English Language and Literature/Letters, Other: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 12 college programs, at a typical net price.
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
What English Language and Literature/Letters, Other pays
Career outlook for English Language and Literature/Letters, Other graduates
The job market for the occupations English Language and Literature/Letters, Other graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English language and literature teachers, postsecondary | 72,200 | +0.0% | $78,270 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other vs similar majors
How English Language and Literature/Letters, Other stacks up against the closest fields in English Language & Literature on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other English Language & Literature · this major | Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | Literature | English Language and Literature, General | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 24 F | 25 F | 24 F | 25 F |
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Poor return | Poor return | Poor return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $46,640 | $51,439 | $49,108 | $48,706 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $39,250 | $33,958 | $25,467 | $31,109 |
| ROI vs cost | -80% | -21% | -49% | -54% |
| Typical debt | $21,867 | $26,839 | $24,981 | $22,149 |
| Colleges offering it | 12 | 173 | 11 | 644 |
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Empire State University Saratoga Springs, NY | Associate's | $57,572 | $20,750 | +307% | Strong return |
| 2 | Middlebury College Middlebury, VT | Associate's | $66,610 | $19,092 | +209% | Strong return |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | Associate's | $49,896 | $18,000 | +55% | Break-even |
| 4 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJ | Associate's | $51,372 | $22,500 | +20% | Break-even |
| 5 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA | Bachelor's | $62,803 | — | +16% | Break-even |
| 6 | Suffolk University Boston, MA | Associate's | $48,178 | $24,875 | -54% | Poor return |
| 7 | Bennington College Bennington, VT | Certificate | $47,569 | $38,838 | -81% | Poor return |
| 8 | Beloit College Beloit, WI | Associate's | $44,476 | — | -112% | Poor return |
| 9 | George Fox University Newberg, OR | Associate's | $38,369 | $18,000 | -195% | Poor return |
| 10 | California State University-Dominguez Hills Carson, CA | Associate's | $40,433 | $12,879 | -308% | Poor return |
| 11 | CES College Burbank, CA | Certificate | $20,483 | — | -881% | Poor return |
| 12 | Delaware Technical Community College-Terry Dover, DE | Certificate | $31,915 | — | -1,230% | Poor return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.