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English & Literature · Literature Rank #3 of 8

Literatureat University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Graduates earn $23,868/yr in their first year — about 2.0% above the national Literature average. Base-case 10-year earnings $558K; scenarios range from $502K to $571K depending on AI disruption.

Pittsburgh, PA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
21 AT RISK
21
Optimistic
17
Pessimistic
Earnings
$23,868
1-year post-graduation
ROI
4.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$558K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
67% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Pittsburgh

A Literature degree from a strong public institution like the University of Pittsburgh provides a robust foundation in critical thinking, nuanced communication, and complex analysis. The slight edge in earnings for this specialized field likely reflects Pitt's academic reputation and its connections within the regional labor market, particularly in education, non-profit organizations, and local publishing houses. You're not just studying texts; you're developing highly transferable skills that employers, from marketing agencies to educational institutions, actively seek. While some tasks within writing and editing face automation risks, your ability to generate original ideas, craft compelling narratives, and interpret complex information remains uniquely human. To maximize your prospects, actively pursue internships or consider a complementary minor in a field like communications, business, or data analysis, applying your literary acumen to specific professional contexts.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$502K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score17/100
Earnings Multiple5.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$558K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score21/100
Earnings Multiple6.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$571K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score21/100
Earnings Multiple6.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Pittsburgh's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Literature graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
0.0% 10-yr growth · 5,100 openings/yr
$78,270/yr
High
2
Editors
+0.6% 10-yr growth · 9,800 openings/yr
$75,260/yr
High
3
Writers and authors
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 13,400 openings/yr
$72,270/yr
Very High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Literature

How University of Pittsburgh stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Pace University
NY · Private nonprofit
16
DW Score
$26K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
The New School
NY · Private nonprofit
17
DW Score
$26K
1-yr earn
0.1x
ROI
Top score
University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg
PA · Public
24
DW Score
$24K
1-yr earn
7.7x
ROI
Same state (PA)
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
PA · Public
24
DW Score
$24K
1-yr earn
7.7x
ROI
American University
DC · Private nonprofit
12
DW Score
$23K
1-yr earn
1.3x
ROI
Also at University of Pittsburgh

Other top programs at University of Pittsburgh

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Pittsburgh, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Literature offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Literature trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Literature at University of Pittsburgh

How does University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus's Literature program score?

This program scores 21/100 — on the lower end for Literature. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Do University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Literature graduates earn enough to justify the loans?

The debt-to-income ratio of 1.1x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.

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.