by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, general literature was the 735th most popular major nationwide with 263 degrees awarded. This represents a 28.5% reduction in general literature degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 338.
Our 2023 Best General Literature Schools ranking analyzes 15 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for general literature students. Explore this or one of our many other custom general literature rankings further below.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents has been highlighted as one of the most essential skills for careers related to general literature. Required skills include communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional general literature certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different general literature degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in general literature to something that takes less time like a . How long it takes to complete some common general literature degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to general literature, with approximately 42.2% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to general literature tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 36.2% |
| Doctoral Degree | 26.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 18.7% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 10.4% |
| High School Diploma | 5.0% |
Most workers in general literature have at least a associate degree. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in general literature have received.
The education level required is different depending on the general literature career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your general literature degree? General Literature careers are expected to grow 4.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general literature.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Writers and Authors | 141,200 | 7.6% |
| Editors | 125,600 | -1.4% |
| English Language and Literature Professors | 92,900 | 9.8% |
As you might expect, salaries for general literature graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for general literature graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers general literature grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Professors | $78,150 |
| Writers and Authors | $73,090 |
| Editors | $69,480 |
With over 97 different general literature degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased general literature school rankings to help you with this.
One of 4 majors within the Literature area of study, General Literature has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| English Literature (British & Commonwealth) | 274 |
| American Literature (United States) | 61 |
| Other Literature | 28 |
