Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature
Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature graduates earn an average annual wage of $139,552, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 9,970 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects.
Key Statistics
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$8,991 Median In-State Public
$23,638 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature majors are, on average, $8,991 for in-state public colleges, and $23,638 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
24 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | MN | 30,469 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | TX | 29,675 |
| 3 | East Carolina University | NC | 19,857 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Carolina University | NC | $7,361 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | TX | $8,991 |
| 3 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | MN | $16,488 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | TX | $11,234 |
| 2 | East Carolina University | NC | $16,514 |
| 3 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | MN | $17,139 |
Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature programs.
Graduation Rates
59.36% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)
57.43% Average Graduation Rate
144 Institutions Reporting
43.88% - 71.16% Interquartile Range
Graduation/completion rates for Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature programs across institutions.
Employment
Information on the businesses and industries that employ Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$139,552 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature majors is $139,552.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature majors.
Occupations by Share
9,970 2023 Workforce
The number of Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature by share of the total number of graduates.
Return on Investment & Value
Financial analysis of Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.
Financial Value Analysis
ROI data is not available for this degree program.
Financial value comparison for Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature degree.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature in the United States.
Workforce Age
N/A Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature.
Age distribution for Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
Gender distribution data is not available for this degree program.
Gender distribution of Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
Race and ethnicity distribution data is not available for this degree program.
Racial and ethnic distribution of Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature majors.
About
Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature
In 2023, 24 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature.
CIP Code
00.3036 - Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature
Insights and Analysis
High Earning Potential: Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature graduates earn an average annual wage of $139,552, placing them among the top earners in the workforce. This strong earning potential reflects both the demand for skills in this field and the value employers place on this degree.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.