Literature: 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 11 college programs, at a typical net price.
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
What Literature pays
Career outlook for Literature graduates
The job market for the occupations Literature 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writers and authors | 135,400 | +3.6% | $72,270 | Bachelor's degree |
| Editors | 115,800 | +0.6% | $75,260 | Bachelor's degree |
| 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.
Literature vs similar majors
How Literature 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.
| Literature English Language & Literature · this major | Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | English Language and Literature, General | English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 24 F | 25 F | 25 F | 24 F |
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Poor return | Poor return | Poor return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $49,108 | $51,439 | $48,706 | $46,640 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $25,467 | $33,958 | $31,109 | $39,250 |
| ROI vs cost | -49% | -21% | -54% | -80% |
| Typical debt | $24,981 | $26,839 | $22,149 | $21,867 |
| Colleges offering it | 11 | 173 | 644 | 12 |
Literature 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 Literature
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 | University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg Greensburg, PA | Certificate | $51,844 | $27,000 | +146% | Strong return |
| 2 | Pace University New York, NY | Associate's | $58,001 | $26,000 | +82% | Strong return |
| 3 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA | Certificate | $51,844 | $27,000 | +70% | Strong return |
| 4 | Simmons University Boston, MA | Certificate | $61,490 | — | +63% | Break-even |
| 5 | University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg Greensburg, PA | Associate's | $51,146 | $27,000 | +34% | Break-even |
| 6 | University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Johnstown, PA | Associate's | $51,146 | $27,000 | +33% | Break-even |
| 7 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA | Associate's | $51,146 | $27,000 | -13% | Poor return |
| 8 | American University Washington, DC | Associate's | $51,266 | $26,105 | -33% | Poor return |
| 9 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ | Associate's | $41,025 | — | -188% | Poor return |
| 10 | SUNY at Purchase College Purchase, NY | Associate's | $34,856 | $24,400 | -317% | Poor return |
| 11 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Associate's | $36,428 | $13,328 | -386% | 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.