Best institutions to study Children's and Adolescent Literature
A program that focuses on the scholarly study of children's and adolescent literature and that may enhance the professional work of teachers, librarians, publishers, booksellers, and creative writers.
6 U.S. institutions graduated 74 Children's and Adolescent Literature students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 23.1405, a specialization of Literature (CIP 23.14), and leads most directly to the Editors occupation (BLS SOC 27-3041).
About Children's and Adolescent Literature programs
A program that focuses on the scholarly study of children's and adolescent literature and that may enhance the professional work of teachers, librarians, publishers, booksellers, and creative writers. Includes instruction in period and genre studies, author studies, literary criticism, studies of various types of literary text, book artists, and children's films.
See also: 25.0102 - Children and Youth Library Services.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Children's and Adolescent Literature program focuses on the scholarly study of literature intended for younger audiences. This program is designed for individuals interested in enhancing their professional work as teachers, librarians, publishers, booksellers, or creative writers, providing a deep understanding of various literary texts, genres, and authors relevant to children and adolescents.
Students will develop essential skills in reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, and active listening. Coursework includes period and genre studies, author studies, and literary criticism, equipping graduates with the knowledge to analyze and appreciate children's and adolescent literature.
Credentials awarded
What Children's and Adolescent Literature graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year46 graduates / yr · 2 institutions62%
- Master's degree17 graduates / yr · 3 institutions23%
- Bachelor's degree6 graduates / yr · 1 institution8.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate5 graduates / yr · 1 institution6.8%
Graduates over time
Children's and Adolescent Literature completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 61 |
| 2013 | 74 |
| 2014 | 65 |
| 2015 | 57 |
| 2016 | 77 |
| 2017 | 93 |
| 2018 | 83 |
| 2019 | 73 |
| 2020 | 55 |
| 2021 | 57 |
| 2022 | 56 |
| 2023 | 60 |
| 2024 | 53 |
| 2025 | 74 |
Top 6 institutions for Children's and Adolescent 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 Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 43 | 85% | — | $23,868 |
| 2 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 11 | 46% | — | — |
| 3 | Dominican University River Forest, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 55% | $16,176 | — |
| 4 | Simmons University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 72% | $24,848 | — |
| 5 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicPost-degree cert. | 5 | 76% | — | — |
| 6 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 58% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Literature field (CIP 23.14) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 6 states
Where Children's and Adolescent Literature graduates come from. Each state links to all Literature programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 43 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus43 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 11 | Eastern Michigan University11 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 6 | Dominican University6 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 6 | Simmons University6 / yr |
| California | 1 | 5 | San Diego State University5 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 3 | Missouri State University - Springfield3 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3041, Editors, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as editors, writers, and authors, or English language and literature teachers at the postsecondary level. The job outlook for related occupations shows little or no change, with approximately 9,800 annual openings and a median wage of $75,260, typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 23.1405
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Editorsprimary SOC 27-3041 | $77,920 | +0.6% Little or no change | ~9,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Writers and Authors SOC 27-3043 | $76,910 | +3.6% About as fast as average | ~13,400 | Bachelor's degree |
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1123 | $78,760 | 0.0% Little or no change | ~5,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Children's and Adolescent 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
- Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
- Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
- Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication, and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.
- Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal.
- Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.
- Oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer typesetting, and printing, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget requirements.
Tools and technology used
Other Literature specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Literature (CIP 23.14).
- General LiteratureCIP 23.1401415 graduates / yr59 institutions
- English Literature (British and Commonwealth)CIP 23.1404partial data244 graduates / yr9 institutions
- American Literature (United States)CIP 23.1402partial data19 graduates / yr4 institutions
- LiteratureCIP 23.1499partial data17 graduates / yr6 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- American Literature (Canadian)23.1403
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What types of careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as an editor, writer, or English language and literature teacher.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will enhance your reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, and active listening skills.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 9,800 annual openings.
What level of education is typically required?+
Most careers in this field typically require at least a bachelor's degree.
What is the CIP code for Children's and Adolescent Literature?+
Children's and Adolescent Literature is CIP 23.1405 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Literature (CIP 23.14). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the scholarly study of children's and adolescent literature and that may enhance the professional work of teachers, librarians, publishers, booksellers, and creative writers. Includes instruction in period and genre studies, author studies, literary criticism, studies of various types of literary text, book artists, and children's films.
How many institutions offer Children's and Adolescent Literature programs?+
6 U.S. institutions reported Children's and Adolescent Literature graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 6 states, awarding 74 credentials in the year. That is 9.6% of all Literature graduates.
How much do Children's and Adolescent Literature graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Editors occupation, which Children's and Adolescent Literature most directly leads to, pays a median of $77,920 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Literature field report median earnings of $23,868 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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