Best institutions to study Comparative Literature
A program that focuses on two or more literary traditions in the original languages or in translation.
74 U.S. institutions graduated 845 Comparative Literature students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.0104, a specialization of Linguistic (CIP 16.01), and leads most directly to the English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1123).
About Comparative Literature programs
A program that focuses on two or more literary traditions in the original languages or in translation. Includes instruction in comparative linguistics; applicable foreign languages; English/French language and literature; literary criticism; and applications to genre, period, national, and textual studies as well as literary forms such as poetry, prose, and drama.
See also: 23.1401 - General Literature., 30.2601 - Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis., 30.3601 - Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Comparative Literature program, under the Linguistic parent program, focuses on exploring two or more literary traditions, either in their original languages or in translation. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the nuances of literature across cultures and languages, offering a rich interdisciplinary approach to literary studies.
Students in this program will develop core skills such as reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking. Coursework typically includes instruction in comparative linguistics, literary criticism, and the study of various literary forms, including poetry, prose, and drama.
Credentials awarded
What Comparative Literature graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree524 graduates / yr · 62 institutions62%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship158 graduates / yr · 38 institutions19%
- Master's degree130 graduates / yr · 36 institutions15%
- Post-master's certificate20 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.4%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate12 graduates / yr · 4 institutions1.4%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Comparative Literature completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,085 |
| 2013 | 1,303 |
| 2014 | 1,120 |
| 2015 | 1,106 |
| 2016 | 1,025 |
| 2017 | 1,037 |
| 2018 | 1,022 |
| 2019 | 988 |
| 2020 | 996 |
| 2021 | 865 |
| 2022 | 844 |
| 2023 | 854 |
| 2024 | 820 |
| 2025 | 845 |
Top 50 institutions for Comparative Literature, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 103 | 75% | — | $21,793 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TXPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 76 | 76% | — | $31,993 |
| 3 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 43 | 93% | — | $25,059 |
| 4 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 34 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 5 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 29 | 83% | — | $27,629 |
| 6 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York, NYPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 24 | — | — | — |
| 7 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 23 | 96% | $27,025 | — |
| 8 | Princeton University Princeton, NJPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 22 | 98% | $13,729 | — |
| 9 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 21 | 87% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 20 | 83% | — | $20,334 |
| 11 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 19 | 83% | — | — |
| 12 | Brown University Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 19 | 96% | $14,644 | — |
| 13 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 16 | 93% | — | $30,524 |
| 14 | University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras San Juan, PRPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 16 | 50% | — | $9,605 |
| 15 | Occidental College Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 81% | $28,024 | — |
| 16 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicDoctoralBachelor'sMaster'sMaster's | 15 | 93% | — | $27,699 |
| 17 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NHPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 15 | 96% | $14,689 | — |
| 18 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 14 | 69% | — | $18,393 |
| 19 | Williams College Williamstown, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 14 | 94% | $10,747 | — |
| 20 | Barnard College New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 14 | 93% | $24,675 | — |
| 21 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 14 | 88% | $29,023 | — |
| 22 | University of Oregon Eugene, ORPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 14 | 72% | — | $23,615 |
| 23 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 13 | 86% | — | $22,965 |
| 24 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 13 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 25 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 13 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 26 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 12 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 27 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 12 | 82% | — | $26,353 |
| 28 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 11 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 29 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 10 | 86% | — | — |
| 30 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 9 | 76% | — | $20,212 |
| 31 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 9 | 84% | — | $16,796 |
| 32 | Reed College Portland, ORPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 71% | $28,272 | $25,561 |
| 33 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 8 | 50% | — | — |
| 34 | Smith College Northampton, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 89% | $17,183 | — |
| 35 | Oberlin College Oberlin, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 81% | $28,313 | — |
| 36 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 8 | 85% | — | — |
| 37 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 7 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 38 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 7 | 94% | $14,126 | — |
| 39 | Emory University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 6 | 91% | $20,586 | — |
| 40 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 6 | 90% | — | $17,864 |
| 41 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 6 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 42 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 6 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 43 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 5 | 95% | $17,613 | — |
| 44 | University of Rochester Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 5 | 85% | $25,874 | — |
| 45 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicDoctoral | 5 | 79% | — | — |
| 46 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 5 | 89% | — | $32,185 |
| 47 | Colorado College Colorado Springs, COPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 88% | $23,510 | — |
| 48 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NYPublicBachelor's | 4 | 57% | — | — |
| 49 | Fordham University Bronx, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 82% | $38,931 | — |
| 50 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 81% | $13,712 | $34,279 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Linguistic field (CIP 16.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 28 states & territories
Where Comparative Literature graduates come from. Each state links to all Linguistic programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1123, English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Comparative Literature program often pursue careers as postsecondary English language and literature teachers. The job outlook for this occupation shows little or no change, with approximately 5,100 annual openings and a median wage of $78,270. A doctoral or professional degree is typically required for these positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.0104
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1123 | $78,760 | 0.0% Little or no change | ~5,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Comparative Literature programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Teach writing or communication classes.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Tools and technology used
Other Linguistic specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Linguistic (CIP 16.01).
- LinguisticsCIP 16.01022,488 graduates / yr161 institutions
- Foreign Languages and LiteraturesCIP 16.01011,917 graduates / yr198 institutions
- Language Interpretation and TranslationCIP 16.0103871 graduates / yr77 institutions
- Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesCIP 16.0199296 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Applied LinguisticsCIP 16.0105174 graduates / yr25 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral degree, or a Post-master's certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, and active learning.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can pursue a career as a postsecondary English language and literature teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 5,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Comparative Literature?+
Comparative Literature is CIP 16.0104 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Linguistic (CIP 16.01). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on two or more literary traditions in the original languages or in translation. Includes instruction in comparative linguistics; applicable foreign languages; English/French language and literature; literary criticism; and applications to genre, period, national, and textual studies as well as literary forms such as poetry, prose, and drama.
How many institutions offer Comparative Literature programs?+
74 U.S. institutions reported Comparative Literature graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 28 states & territories, awarding 845 credentials in the year. That is 12.8% of all Linguistic graduates.
How much do Comparative Literature graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which Comparative Literature most directly leads to, pays a median of $78,760 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Linguistic field report median earnings of $25,561 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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