by our College Data Analytics Team
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 54,635 people earned their degree in English language and literature, making the major the 18th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, English language and literature graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $30,352 and had an average of $23,972 in loans still to pay off.
Across Virginia, there were 2,019 English language and literature graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,073 and $23,590 respectively.
For this year’s “Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia” ranking, we looked at 41 colleges that offer a degree in English language and literature. To top this list, a school must have a successful English language and literature program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia” list to help you make the college decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia”.
Out of the 41 schools in the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Old Dominion University landed the #1 spot on the list. Old Dominion University is a large school located in Norfolk, Virginia that handed out 327 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Old Dominion University English Language & Literature Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia. University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 195 ’s English language and literature degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on English Language & Literature at University of Virginia - Main Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend George Mason University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia list. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, this large public school handed out 156 degrees to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read full report on English Language & Literature at George Mason University
Out of the 41 schools in the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Liberty University landed the #4 spot on the list. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 134 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Liberty University English Language & Literature Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Commonwealth University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia list. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution located in Richmond, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 119 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
James Madison University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia list. James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 113 ’s English language and literature degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Virginia Tech came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia ranking. Virginia Tech is a large school located in Blacksburg, Virginia that handed out 93 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #8, University of Mary Washington did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia list. This small school is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and it awarded 80 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
William & Mary came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia ranking. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, this medium-sized public school awarded 65 degrees to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about English Language & Literature at William & Mary
Christopher Newport University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia ranking. Christopher Newport University is a public institution located in Newport News, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 45 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
With a ranking of #11, Hollins University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia list. This small school is located in Roanoke, Virginia, and it awarded 44 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on English Language & Literature at Hollins
Radford University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #12. Radford University is a medium-sized school located in Radford, Virginia that handed out 48 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on English Language & Literature at Radford University
Regent University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #13. Regent is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It awarded 41 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #14, University of Richmond did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia list. URichmond is a private not-for-profit institution located in University of Richmond, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 40 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about English Language & Literature at University of Richmond
With a ranking of #15, Roanoke College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia list. Roanoke is located in Salem, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 31 ’s English language and literature degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
With a ranking of #16, Bridgewater College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia list. Bridgewater College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bridgewater, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about English Language & Literature at Bridgewater College
Longwood University ranked #17 on this year’s Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia list. This small school is located in Farmville, Virginia, and it awarded 26 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on English Language & Literature at Longwood
Virginia Military Institute did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #18. VMI is a small public school situated in Lexington, Virginia. It awarded 21 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Washington and Lee University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #19. Washington and Lee University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lexington, Virginia. It awarded 20 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about English Language & Literature at Washington and Lee
Virginia Wesleyan University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia list. Virginia Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It awarded 16 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about English Language & Literature at Virginia Wesleyan University
With a ranking of #21, Randolph - Macon College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia list. Randolph - Macon is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ashland, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about English Language & Literature at Randolph - Macon
With a ranking of #22, Randolph College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia list. This small school is located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and it awarded 13 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on English Language & Literature at Randolph College
Southern Virginia University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia ranking. Southern Virginia University is a small school located in Buena Vista, Virginia that handed out 13 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Southern Virginia University English Language & Literature Report
With a ranking of #24, Hampton University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia list. Hampton, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on English Language & Literature at Hampton University
The University of Virginia’s College at Wise came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major in Virginia ranking. Located in Wise, Virginia, this small public school handed out 12 degrees to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.
Read more about English Language & Literature at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise
Read more about our data sources and methodologies