English Language and Literature/Letters graduates earn $46,634 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $30,918 and $61,375. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers English Language and Literature/Letters as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of English and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
English Language and Literature/Letters is a focused area of study within English. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $46,634 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 79 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 877 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$24,239
Median Earnings · 4yr
$46,634
Colleges Offering
79
Graduates / Year
877
Avg Net Price / yr
$18,403
How Much Do English Language and Literature/Letters Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing English Language and Literature/Letters, a typical graduate earns $46,634, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $30,918 and $61,375, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $24,239 at one year out to $46,634 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$46,634
4-Year National Median
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$39,286
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every English Language and Literature/Letters graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.
$30,91825th pct.
$46,634Median
$61,37575th pct.
Understanding the Cost vs. Return
At median 4-year earnings of $46,634 and an estimated $73,612 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 4.4 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.
Based on outcomes from 59 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 877 students who complete English Language and Literature/Letters programs each year, the majority (64%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
64%
Bachelor's64%
Master's16%
Associate's13%
What Can You Do With an English Language and Literature/Letters Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. English Language and Literature/Letters graduates show up in 1 different occupations, and English Language and Literature Teachers pay the most at $78,760/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Teach writing or communication classes.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Top Colleges for English Language and Literature/Letters
Not sure where to study English Language and Literature/Letters? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by English Language and Literature/Letters graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related English Programs
English Language and Literature/Letters is not the only path through English: 3 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an English Language and Literature/Letters program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
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English Language and Literature/Letters Degree: Pros & Cons
English Language and Literature/Letters carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 1 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $24,239 at graduation to $46,634 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
CONS
Modest median earningsFour-year median of $46,634 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Slow job growthTop related careers project less than 3% growth over the next decade; limited expansion means more competition for new openings.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($30,918) and 75th ($61,375) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
English Language and Literature/Letters Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do English Language and Literature/Letters graduates earn?
$46,634 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $30,918 and $61,375, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for an English Language and Literature/Letters degree?
$24,239 in the first year out. That grows to $46,634 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with an English Language and Literature/Letters degree?
English Language and Literature Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $78,760 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does an English Language and Literature/Letters program take?
Four years of full-time study for an English Language and Literature/Letters bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer English Language and Literature/Letters?
79 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is an English Language and Literature/Letters degree worth it?
$46,634 median earnings four years out against $18,403 a year in average net price. That is a slow payback, so cost matters more than usual here: a cheaper school changes the answer. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between English Language and Literature/Letters and English?
English Language and Literature/Letters is the narrower of the two: English covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to English Language and Literature/Letters-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in English Language and Literature/Letters graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring English Language and Literature/Letters graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
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