Best institutions to study English Literature (British and Commonwealth)
A program that focuses on the literatures and literary developments of the English-speaking peoples of the British Isles and the British Commonwealth, from the origins of the English language to the present.
9 U.S. institutions graduated 244 English Literature (British and Commonwealth) students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 23.1404, a specialization of Literature (CIP 23.14), and leads most directly to the English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1123).
About English Literature (British and Commonwealth) programs
A program that focuses on the literatures and literary developments of the English-speaking peoples of the British Isles and the British Commonwealth, from the origins of the English language to the present. Includes instruction in period and genre studies, author studies, country and regional specializations, literary criticism, and the study of folkloric traditions.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The English Literature (British and Commonwealth) program focuses on the literary developments of English-speaking peoples from the British Isles and the British Commonwealth. This program encompasses a wide range of studies, including period and genre studies, author studies, and literary criticism, making it ideal for students passionate about literature and its cultural significance.
Students will develop core skills in reading comprehension, writing, speaking, and critical thinking. The coursework covers essential knowledge areas such as English language, history, and philosophy, equipping graduates with a well-rounded understanding of literature and its impact.
Credentials awarded
What English Literature (British and Commonwealth) graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree159 graduates / yr · 6 institutions65%
- Master's degree59 graduates / yr · 3 institutions24%
- Associate's degree19 graduates / yr · 1 institution7.8%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship7 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.9%
Graduates over time
English Literature (British and Commonwealth) completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 527 |
| 2013 | 518 |
| 2014 | 399 |
| 2015 | 378 |
| 2016 | 301 |
| 2017 | 309 |
| 2018 | 270 |
| 2019 | 356 |
| 2020 | 282 |
| 2021 | 263 |
| 2022 | 218 |
| 2023 | 249 |
| 2024 | 262 |
| 2025 | 244 |
Top 9 institutions for English Literature (British and Commonwealth), 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 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 115 | 88% | $29,023 | — |
| 2 | Pace University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 40 | 60% | $29,994 | $25,758 |
| 3 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicBachelor's | 33 | 85% | — | $23,868 |
| 4 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicMaster's | 22 | 68% | — | — |
| 5 | Tyler Junior College Tyler, TXPublicAssociate's | 19 | 27% | — | — |
| 6 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NYPublicMaster's | 7 | 57% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Pittsburgh - Greensburg Greensburg, PAPublicBachelor's | 4 | 40% | — | $23,868 |
| 8 | University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown Johnstown, PAPublicBachelor's | 3 | 56% | — | $23,868 |
| 9 | Ohio Northern University Ada, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 75% | $23,912 | — |
* 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 5 states
Where English Literature (British and Commonwealth) graduates come from. Each state links to all Literature programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 3 | 162 | New York University115 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 40 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus33 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 22 | George Mason University22 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 19 | Tyler Junior College19 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 1 | Ohio Northern University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1123, English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program often pursue careers as English Language and Literature Teachers at the postsecondary level. The job outlook shows little or no change, with approximately 5,100 annual openings and a median wage of $78,270, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 23.1404
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 English Literature (British and Commonwealth) 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 Literature specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Literature (CIP 23.14).
- General LiteratureCIP 23.1401415 graduates / yr59 institutions
- Children's and Adolescent LiteratureCIP 23.1405partial data74 graduates / yr6 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 degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, Associate's, or Doctor's degree in English Literature (British and Commonwealth).
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, writing, speaking, critical thinking, and active learning.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
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 around 5,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for English Literature (British and Commonwealth)?+
English Literature (British and Commonwealth) is CIP 23.1404 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 literatures and literary developments of the English-speaking peoples of the British Isles and the British Commonwealth, from the origins of the English language to the present. Includes instruction in period and genre studies, author studies, country and regional specializations, literary criticism, and the study of folkloric traditions.
How many institutions offer English Literature (British and Commonwealth) programs?+
9 U.S. institutions reported English Literature (British and Commonwealth) graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states, awarding 244 credentials in the year. That is 31.7% of all Literature graduates.
How much do English Literature (British and Commonwealth) 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 English Literature (British and Commonwealth) most directly leads to, pays a median of $78,760 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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