Literature at The New School

New York, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
17 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
17
Optimistic
17
Base Case
13
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,618/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (69% exposed)
Job Market Medium (28,300 openings/yr)
ROI 1.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #6 of 8 Literature programs

Program Analysis

Earning a literature degree from The New School places you at the heart of New York City's vibrant cultural and publishing industries. This unique environment shapes post-graduation paths, often leading graduates into roles within publishing houses, literary agencies, media organizations, or arts administration, leveraging the city's vast network. Your analytical, critical thinking, and advanced communication skills are highly valued in these fields, often translating into competitive roles in editing, content strategy, or communications, distinct from more traditional academic routes. While the core tasks in writing and editing face evolving automation risks, the program's emphasis on sophisticated textual analysis and creative problem-solving equips you to tackle complex, human-centric challenges. To maximize your potential, actively seek internships and networking opportunities within NYC's cultural institutions throughout your studies.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Literature graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $394K $410K $407K
Earnings Multiple 1.7x 1.8x 1.8x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 42% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 17 17 13

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$225,544
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$221,436
2% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,497
10.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$42,021
64% growth from Year 1

About The New School

A 63% admission rate makes The New School accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a mid-sized student body of 6,819 in New York, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at The New School →

Top Career Paths

English language and literature teachers, postsecondary $78,270/yr
Editors $75,260/yr
Writers and authors $72,270/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Literature at Other Schools

Other Majors at The New School

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The New School's Literature program score?
This program scores 17/100 — on the lower end for Literature. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Literature to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Literature careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 69% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →