Choosing a college major is a pivotal decision, setting the stage for your future career path. While STEM fields often take center stage in career discussions, a major in Comparative Literature offers a unique and increasingly valuable skill set in today’s globalized and rapidly evolving world. For those considering a humanities path, the Comparative Literature Major stands out as a particularly strong choice, opening doors to diverse and fulfilling careers. Princeton University, renowned for its strong humanities programs, highlights the exceptional career trajectories of its Comparative Literature graduates, demonstrating the practical advantages of this field of study.
Employers actively seek out Comparative Literature majors due to their interdisciplinary training and unique abilities. These students delve into literature across linguistic and cultural boundaries, developing a nuanced understanding of global interactions. This study occurs within a rich context, encompassing economics, political science, cultural trends, historical shifts, religious studies, urban environments, international relations, and public policy. The curriculum fosters essential research skills, honed through engaging with literature in its original languages and in translation. These skills—critical analysis, cross-cultural communication, and international understanding—are highly prized by a wide spectrum of employers. In a workforce often dominated by specialists, Comparative Literature majors offer a rare adaptability and cultural competence. They are the communicators, the bridge-builders, capable of navigating complex ideas and diverse cultural landscapes with ease. This makes the comparative literature major a degree with significant future potential.
The Growing Need for Humanities Skills
Predictions about the future job market increasingly emphasize the enduring value of skills cultivated by humanities disciplines, including comparative literature. An Inc. magazine report from November 2019 highlighted expert opinions suggesting that a purely tech-focused education may not be the most secure path to career success in the 2020s and beyond. Notably, research indicates that skills honed through liberal arts studies are among the least susceptible to automation. A comprehensive Google study further reinforced this point, revealing that “tech skills mattered the least and soft skills the most” when evaluating employee success. Workplace trend expert Dan Schawbel succinctly stated, “AI will automate technical skills and drive the demand for soft skills like creativity, communication and empathy. While there’s been such a focus on recruiting STEM over the past several years, those majors will continue to lose relevance, while liberal arts majors will become more valuable to companies moving forward.” This shift underscores the rising importance of the skills developed through a comparative literature major.
George Arison, CEO of a tech company, echoed this sentiment in the Inc. article, noting that tech companies will increasingly face challenges that lack straightforward technical solutions. The most valuable employees will be those adept at navigating complex value judgments. Issues like combating fake news and addressing bias in technology require more than just technical fixes; they demand nuanced understanding and critical thinking. Toby Russell, another CEO interviewed, emphasized that “The next generation of great tech companies will need to find ways to have software interact successfully and harmoniously with real humans in the real world. In order to do that, you need soft-skilled leaders that can integrate people, process and technology — to in essence practice technological diplomacy.” These insights highlight the crucial role of comparative literature majors and other humanities graduates in shaping the future of technology and business.
Diverse Career Paths of Comparative Literature Majors
Princeton University’s Comparative Literature majors embark on a remarkably diverse range of careers, demonstrating the versatility of the degree. A significant portion, approximately one-third (32%), pursue careers in education. Many become professors and teachers, shaping future generations at prestigious institutions worldwide, including Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, and numerous others. Beyond professorships, graduates contribute to higher education in diverse roles such as alumni relations, development, writing program administration, and student advising, even within Princeton itself. Some also find fulfilling careers in educational testing and college counseling.
Another substantial group, around 30%, enters the business world. Their roles span various sectors including computing, development, marketing, consulting, finance, entrepreneurship, product management, human resources, and quality assurance. Many achieve leadership positions as partners or directors in firms like Boston Consulting Group and McKinsey & Company. Others hold prominent roles such as senior marketing executives at major corporations or investment banking analysts at leading financial institutions. This business acumen demonstrates the adaptability and analytical skills inherent in a comparative literature major.
A notable percentage, about 12%, gravitate towards careers as writers and editors. This group includes New York Times best-selling authors, editors at renowned publications like The New Yorker, and editorial directors at major publishing houses. Comparative Literature majors also excel as television writers, screenwriters, playwrights, novelists, and journalists, showcasing their exceptional communication and storytelling abilities.
Law is another field attracting Comparative Literature graduates, with approximately 11% choosing this path. Some become attorneys for prominent US Attorney’s Offices, while others serve as general or special counsel for businesses or establish their own law firms. This demonstrates the critical thinking and argumentation skills honed through literary analysis are directly transferable to legal careers.
While less numerous, around 6% of Comparative Literature majors become doctors, and another 4% pursue careers in film, art, and media. These diverse paths—from film directors to graphic designers to curators—underscore the broad applicability of a comparative literature major to creative and impactful professions.
A study of 525 Princeton Comparative Literature graduates from the 2010s provides further statistical insight: approximately 30% in business/finance, 27% professors, 12% writers/editors, 11% lawyers, 6% doctors, 5% teachers, and 4% artists/actors. This data reinforces the multifaceted career outcomes associated with this degree.
Earning Potential and Career Satisfaction
Contrary to common misconceptions, humanities majors, including those with a comparative literature major, exhibit strong job prospects and comparable long-term earnings to STEM majors. While the initial career path might require more exploration, humanities graduates often ascend to higher positions over time.
The New York Times has challenged the myth that STEM degrees automatically guarantee better employment and higher salaries. Their reporting indicates that the initial advantage for STEM majors diminishes over time due to factors like skill obsolescence and increased competition. In contrast, a liberal arts education, with its focus on “soft skills” such as initiative, problem-solving, and leadership, equips graduates for sustained success in a constantly evolving job market. As highlighted in The New York Times article “In the Salary Race, Engineers Sprint but English Majors Endure,” the long-term career trajectory favors the adaptable skill set nurtured by a comparative literature major.
The Washington Post further supports this perspective, reporting that English majors aged 25-29 actually had a lower unemployment rate in 2017 than math and computer science majors. This data, cited in “The World’s Top Economists Just Made the Case for Why We Still Need English Majors,” underscores the practical value and employability of humanities degrees.
Beyond financial success, comparative literature majors also report high levels of career satisfaction. A 2019 Gallup poll revealed that humanities graduates express significant happiness with their lives over time, contradicting narratives that question the practical value of these degrees. The data indicates that humanities graduates, including those with a comparative literature major, contribute across diverse occupational categories, leading fulfilling and impactful lives.
Princeton Comparative Literature Graduates: Real-World Success
Examining the recent graduates from Princeton’s Comparative Literature program (Classes of 2016-2020) further illustrates the diverse career paths and early successes of comparative literature majors. A survey of these classes showed that a significant percentage were employed (43%) or pursuing graduate studies (44%), with only 11% actively seeking employment shortly after graduation.
Among those employed, the sectors were varied: 13% in business (entertainment, fashion, advertising, consulting, software engineering), 13% in education, 8% in publishing, 5% in law, and 4% in healthcare. Those pursuing graduate degrees were focused on humanities master’s programs (31%), comparative literature doctorates (9%), law school (6%), and medical school (9%), often at prestigious institutions like Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge.
The article then provides specific examples of recent Princeton Comparative Literature graduates and their roles, showcasing the breadth of opportunities:
- Spencer Shen ’16: Software Engineer at Bloomberg
- Daniel Teehan ’17: Outreach Paralegal at Southern Poverty Law Center
- Nicole Acheampong ’17: Publicity Assistant at Riverhead Books
- Lara Noorgard ’17: Founder of Arte memoria magazine
- Lizzie Buehler ’17 & Jennifer Shyue ’17: Translators
- Magdalena Collum ’18: Clinical Research Coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital
- Daphne Mandell ’19: Associate in the office of the CEO at Rent The Runway
- Jenny Kim ’20: TV series translator for Bound Entertainment
The article further expands on successful alumni in various fields, categorized by Arts, Education, Law & Medicine, and Business/Nonprofits, demonstrating long-term career achievements of comparative literature majors from Princeton across decades. These examples, including a New York Times best-selling author, a New Yorker editor, and award-winning academics, underscore the lasting impact and versatility of a comparative literature major.
In conclusion, a comparative literature major offers a robust and future-proof educational foundation. It equips graduates with critical thinking, communication, and cross-cultural understanding—skills increasingly valued across diverse industries. The success of Princeton University’s Comparative Literature alumni serves as compelling evidence that this major not only leads to fulfilling careers but also positions graduates for leadership and impact in a rapidly changing world. For students seeking a degree that is both intellectually stimulating and practically advantageous, the comparative literature major is an excellent choice.
