### SUMMARY

 A degree in Literature is a valuable choice and usually a mandatory first step for pupils choosing to pursue a career as a general copywriter, an english teacher, or a copy editor. In fact, literature is a very rare degree coming in at the 263rd most popular major. In the last year, there were 574 literature degrees conferred. In-state tuition for literature at private universities is, on average, 3.6 times more pricey than their public rivals.

 With just 62 institutions offering this degree you might have a smaller selection of institutions you can choose from. If you're hoping to surround yourself with other literature majors, look at colleges in New York which have more undergrads admitted to literature than any other state. More generally, the best region to pursue literature is in the Mid East region with [The New School](/colleges/the-new-school), [New York University](/colleges/new-york-university), and [University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus](/colleges/university-of-pittsburgh-pittsburgh-campus) best representing the region. Interestingly, our selection of the best conference to study literature is the University Athletic Association with [New York University](/colleges/new-york-university) representing the conference. That said, our belief is that the best college for literature is [Duke University](/colleges/duke-university). You might also want to check out our list of [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges).

 The objectively best school is not necessarily the 'best' school for every student. There are many more perspectives to consider when selecting school. External stuff like campus amenities, transportation services, and food might impact your feelings on which school to attend. Here at authority.org, we weighed the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you want to know which literature school boasts the best campus, the winner is [New York University](/colleges/new-york-university). If you are mostly interested in which school is home to the best campus, then we have an entire page [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through student reviews, professor reviews, government databases, and more so we can evaluate each major in an unbiased and informative way. Here you can explore our comprehensive list for the schools with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbspand, from that list, our pick for the school with the best student life for literature is [Duke University](/colleges/duke-university). Are you curious why? Keep scrolling to learn more about Authority's top selections. Some of our picks might shock you.

 If expense is a significant deciding factor in your decision on where to go to college, you might consider avoiding [Hamilton College](/colleges/hamilton-college). [Hamilton College](/colleges/hamilton-college)&nbspappears to be our most expensive school for literature, at least regarding out of state attendance. We do have an entire page for the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspuniversities that might put the price tag at [Hamilton College](/colleges/hamilton-college)&nbspinto perspective. You could also care to know that literature is the 94th most expensive major in America, with an average cost of $40,100. To zoom out a little, the most costly state for literature on our list is North Carolina demonstrated by a cost of $55,880 at the main university in the state Duke University. Even more broadly, the most costly region of the U.S. for literature is the Southeast region which is best demonstrated with [Loyola University New Orleans](/colleges/loyola-university-new-orleans) with a cost of $38,926, and [Duke University](/colleges/duke-university) with a cost of $55,880.

 Our cheapest region for literature is the Southwest region which is represented by [Grand Canyon University](/colleges/grand-canyon-university) with a cost of $16,419. On the bright side, the most affordable college for literature is [Grand Canyon University](/colleges/grand-canyon-university). Authority's entire list of the most affordable schools can be explored [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state students can anticipate paying around $12,900 for a degree in literature. That cost swells by a lot to a median of $28,200 for an out-of-state public-school undergrad. Our selection for the college representing the best value for literature: [Duke University](/colleges/duke-university). Here you will find our comprehensive list for the schools we believe to be the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspin general. That being said, this section is based on out-of-state tuition costs. The value proposition changes when in-state tuition is considered, but we do not know in which states any one student has residency.

 Earnings for literature majors vary widely, but two years after completing the major students will often make around $51,900. There is a lot of variation in pay; top positions can experience pay up to $87,600. Even straight out of university, the lowest earning positions within the literature space earn $29,900, which could be worse. The highest earning graduates from literature graduated from [Duke University](/colleges/duke-university)&nbspand if you want to find the colleges with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), Authority has that too.

 The overall diversity of literature ranks on the higher end, falling in the 62nd percentile of all programs. The college with the highest composite diversity for literature is [New York University](/colleges/new-york-university)&nbspand here you can find our general list of the schools with the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The overall financial diversity of the Literature major only ranks in the 31st percentile compared to all other majors. Racial diversity is greater than financial diversity, ranking in the 55th percentile. White collegians compose the largest share at 61% of those studying literature. Additionally, 72% of students seeking a literature degree are women.

 The median score of literature's professors is 4 stars, a rating that is surprisingly the average across every major; this is a fine. If you want to find the most popular literature professor in the nation, take a look at Sandra Desjardins at [Scottsdale Community College](/colleges/scottsdale-community-college). This may come as a shock, but the best ranked professors for literature from student rankings come from [American University](/colleges/american-university). If we consider data other than simply rankings we find that the school with the best instructors for literature is [Duke University](/colleges/duke-university). You can find more detail on our evolving ranking methodology for the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), along with some of the best professors nationwide.

 Finally, the hardest college to get into for literature is [Duke University](/colleges/duke-university). While we are unsure why you would be interested, we have a detailed page of the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). But, we do hope you understand that considering the education process with context mainly informed by superlatives can cause issues. We hope you explore our other pages on different schools and peruse a few of our informative background pages on useful things to look for as your school search develops.



 ### POPULARITY

 Literature is the 263rd most popular degree in America, with 574 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It narrowly lost to #262 [Music Theory and Composition](/rankings/best-colleges-for-music-theory-and-composition).

 The degree is offered at a total of 62 colleges across the nation, and is the 237th most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 7% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America.

 It is also worth noting that 36% of colleges offering literature are public making it a relatively inaccessible field.

 The mid east produces the most literature graduates, largely led by [The New School](/colleges/the-new-school), while it’s the University Athletic Association that leads conference totals. As far as states, New York ranks highest, with particular help from [The New School](/colleges/the-new-school) and [New York University](/colleges/new-york-university).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more literature graduates than [Mills College](/colleges/mills-college), which graduated 121 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study literature). More students studied literature as a percentage of total students at [Bennington College](/colleges/bennington-college) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Literature is the 94th most expensive major in the United States, with a median cost of $40,061 amongst the top 50 programs (just ahead of #95, [Graphic Design](rankings/best-colleges-for-graphic-design), with a median cost of $39,880).

 The Southeast has the most expensive schools with top 50 literature programs led by [Loyola University New Orleans](/colleges/loyola-university-new-orleans) with an annual cost of $38,926. North Carolina is the most expensive state for literature led by [Duke University](/colleges/duke-university).

 Public schools with good programs typically charge 71.98% less than private schools for in-state students. When looking at out-of-state tuition however, the median top 50 Public school charges 38.7% less than your average private school. So make sure to check out public shools in your state sooner rather than later.

 The most costly option in the top 25 is [Hamilton College](/colleges/hamilton-college), which is the 37th most expensive college in America. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [Grand Canyon University](/colleges/grand-canyon-university). It costs just $16,500 per year, and it is its literature program is ranked #20. Another more affordable pick would be #7, [SUNY at Purchase College](/colleges/suny-at-purchase-college) in Westchester County, NY with a cost of $7,070 for in-state students and $16,980 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Enrolling in college is an important investment for most. It is important to have confidence you justify that cash outlay. We hope the following career and income facts help you in deciding your major at college.

 The average Literature alumni makes a starting salary of $28,899 a year (bottom 15%). With experience in their professional lives, they can generate up to $87,591 per annum to as little as $29,877, but average approximately $51,852. Just so you know, that is 34% north of the national average.

 The most popular work title for a Literature graduate is Account Executive, which commonly earn around $36,000; next are Marketing Internship and Marketing Coordinator, which by and large make around $24,000 and $37,000 respectively.

 The Mid East has the best paid Literature graduates. The highest earning state for Literature graduates is PA. Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference has the most well paid Literature graduates of any conference..



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Literature: Median Professor Rating: 4 / 5, which is average.

 Instructors frequently play a hefty role in shaping your college experience, no matter what you study. A great instructor may provide inspiration and even make a difficult subject seem fun. On the flip side, a poor professor can mess up your development or even worse... fail you!

 Literature professors have a median student rating of 4 out of 5, putting them in the top 50th percentile in America grounded in student approval. Suprisingly, this major is exactly the median for professor rating, which, in our opinion, is remarkably average! Professors of Literature barely surpassed those from ["Graphic Design"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-graphic-design), whereas ["Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-arts-entertainment-and-media-management)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Literature.

 Now for some statistics about Literature professors. Colleges located in distant rural areas tend to have the best Literature professors. The Frontier Conference has the highest rated Literature professors. The Mid East region has the highest rated Literature professors. Public universities tend to have higher rated Literature professors than private institutions. Finally, South Dakota has the highest rated Literature professors in America.

 Sandra Desjardins, instructor at [Scottsdale Community College](/colleges/scottsdale-community-college)&nbspin Scottsdale, AZ is the most popular Literature professor in the United States. Adrian Anderson, instructor at [CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice](/colleges/cuny-john-jay-college-of-criminal-justice)&nbspin New York, NY is the highest rated Literature professor in America, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 Learn which colleges have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College often is a profoundly constructive period in one's life; it's an occasion for individual progress and expansion. Pupils attempt to learn their values and cultivate many of the essential skills to be a halcyon adult. But learning also happens outside a classroom environment - the late nights discussing World War II with a classmate, the nugget of wisdom gained from an eccentric instructor, the exposure to a different take on things. Therefore, a diverse student population greatly enriches what you gain from your time at school.

 Literature is a slightly more racially diverse major than average\*. 61% of the nation's Literature majors are white students, followed by latino students (13%), students of other races\*\*(11%), and asian students (7%). The most racially diverse college\* in the top 100 is [The New School](/colleges/the-new-school) located in New York, NY.

 Secondly, Literature significatly skews female, with practically 5 out of 7 students majoring in Literature identifying as women. The most gender balanced school in the top 100 is [University of California-Los Angeles](/colleges/university-of-california-los-angeles) in Los Angeles, CA.

 Another important type of diversity is class diversity. Unfortunately, Literature is one of the United States' least socioeconomically diverse subjects (Bottom 31%). 30% of its majors come from families who earn over $110,000 per year, 15% are from households that earn between $48,000 and $75,000 a year, and 26% grew up in families making less than $30,000 a year. [Castleton University](/colleges/castleton-university) is the most financially diverse school in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall NY is the most diverse state for Literature. The Far West is the most diverse region, and the University Athletic Association is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 7%
* Black: 7%
* Latino: 13%
* White: 61%
* Other: 11%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 28%
* Female: 72%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 26%
* 30k - 48k: 14%
* 48k - 75k: 15%
* 75k - 110k: 15%
* Over 110k: 30%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 49%
* Out of State: 42%
* International: 9%


2023 Literature Salary

There are about 1,549 students enrolled in Literature in the USA.

SALARY