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2025 Best English Language & Literature Schools

489 Colleges in the United States
52,704 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$32,613 Avg Early-Career Salary
When it comes to popularity, english language & literature sits in the middle of the road, ranking #18 out of 38 majors in the country. So, you may have to do some digging around to find quality schools that offer the degree program. This list can help with that.

College Factual reviewed 489 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for degree seekers in the field of english language & literature. Combined, these schools handed out 52,704 degrees in english language & literature to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great English Language & Literature School

Best English Language & Literature Schools The english language & literature program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for English Language & Literature rankings. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for english language & literature schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.

English Language & Literature Rankings by Degree Level

Associate Degrees in English Language & Literature
Bachelor's Degrees in English Language & Literature
Master's Degrees in English Language & Literature
Doctor's Degrees in English Language & Literature

The english language & literature school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best English Language & Literature Schools. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Read more about College Factual's methodology.

Best Schools for English Language & Literature in the United States

The schools below may not offer all types of english language & literature degrees so you may want to filter by degree level first. However, they are great for the degree levels they do offer. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools in English Language & Literature

1
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
389 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$34,070 Median Starting Salary

Every student pursuing a degree in english language & literature has to look into University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus. Located in the large city of Pittsburgh, Pitt is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 6th out of 103 colleges for overall quality in the state of Pennsylvania.

There were approximately 389 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Pitt in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the english language & literature program report average early career wages of $34,070.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
313 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$35,774 Median Starting Salary

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a great option for students pursuing a degree in english language & literature. Located in the large city of Minneapolis, UMN Twin Cities is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 52 schools for overall quality in the state of Minnesota.

There were about 313 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at UMN Twin Cities in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature degree recipients from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities earn a boost of around $3,161 over the typical earnings of english language & literature graduates.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BA in English Language & Literature Program Name

Turn your love of reading and writing into a career with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in BA in English Language & Literature from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
143 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
4.2% Growth in Graduates

Johns Hopkins University is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in english language & literature. Johns Hopkins is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Baltimore. A Best Colleges rank of #6 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Johns Hopkins is a great university overall.

There were roughly 143 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins in the most recent data year. Those english language & literature students who get their degree from Johns Hopkins University earn $17,987 more than the typical english language & literature student.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from Johns Hopkins University

4
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
122 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$40,967 Median Starting Salary

Every student who is interested in english language & literature needs to look into University of Pennsylvania. Located in the city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #2 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UPenn is a great university overall.

There were approximately 122 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at UPenn in the most recent year we have data available. English Language & Literature degree recipients from University of Pennsylvania earn a boost of about $8,354 over the typical income of english language & literature graduates.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from University of Pennsylvania

5
Georgetown crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
85 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
2.4% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large city of Washington, Georgetown is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #11 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Georgetown is a great university overall.

There were about 85 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown in the most recent year we have data available. Those english language & literature students who get their degree from Georgetown University earn $20,386 more than the average english language & literature grad.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from Georgetown University

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
86 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$31,748 Median Starting Salary

Northwestern is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston. A Best Colleges rank of #5 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Northwestern is a great university overall.

There were roughly 86 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the english language & literature program make around $31,748 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from Northwestern University

7
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
291 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$37,160 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #15 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Columbia is a great university overall.

There were about 291 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Columbia in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature degree recipients from Columbia University in the City of New York get an earnings boost of about $4,546 over the average earnings of english language & literature graduates.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from Columbia University in the City of New York

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BA English in Literature Program Name

Develop your literary and cultural analysis skills to help advance your career with this specialized online degree from Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in BA English in Literature from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

8
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
321 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$27,799 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #28 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UCLA is a great university overall.

There were about 321 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the english language & literature program earn around $27,799 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from University of California - Los Angeles

9
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
112 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
1.8% Growth in Graduates

Boston College is a fairly large private not-for-profit college located in the small city of Chestnut Hill. A Best Colleges rank of #17 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Boston College is a great college overall.

There were about 112 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent year we have data available. English Language & Literature degree recipients from Boston College get an earnings boost of approximately $9,600 above the average earnings of english language & literature graduates.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from Boston College

10
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
287 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$30,268 Median Starting Salary

UC Berkeley is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley. A Best Colleges rank of #14 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UC Berkeley is a great university overall.

There were approximately 287 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at UC Berkeley in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the english language & literature program earn around $30,268 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from University of California - Berkeley

11
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
145 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$36,561 Median Starting Salary

UMCP is a fairly large public university located in the large suburb of College Park. This university ranks 2nd out of 35 colleges for overall quality in the state of Maryland.

There were approximately 145 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at UMCP in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature degree recipients from University of Maryland - College Park earn a boost of approximately $3,948 over the typical income of english language & literature majors.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from University of Maryland - College Park

Sponsored
Masters Degree Type
MA in English Program Name

You can earn your MA in English entirely online with Southern New Hampshire University! This online English degree program can help you increase your analytical and communication skills.

More information about a degree in MA in English from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

12
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
74 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
9.5% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #29 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Notre Dame is a great university overall.

There were approximately 74 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Notre Dame in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature degree recipients from University of Notre Dame receive an earnings boost of about $7,732 over the average earnings of english language & literature graduates.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from University of Notre Dame

13
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
328 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
5.5% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Austin, UT Austin is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 115 schools for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were roughly 328 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at UT Austin in the most recent year we have data available. Those english language & literature students who get their degree from The University of Texas at Austin make $3,968 more than the average english language & literature graduate.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from The University of Texas at Austin

14
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
169 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$33,391 Median Starting Salary

U-M is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor. A Best Colleges rank of #22 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means U-M is a great university overall.

There were roughly 169 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at U-M in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients generally make an average of $33,391 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

15
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
143 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$33,385 Median Starting Salary

Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 85 colleges for overall quality in the state of Illinois.

There were approximately 143 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent data year. Soon after graduating, english language & literature degree recipients typically earn around $33,385 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BA English in Professional Writing Program Name

Expand your professional skillset with this specialized online degree from Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in BA English in Professional Writing from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

16
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
135 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$27,335 Median Starting Salary

Located in the fringe town of Storrs, UCONN is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 18 colleges for overall quality in the state of Connecticut.

There were approximately 135 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at UCONN in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the english language & literature program state that they receive average early career wages of $27,335.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from University of Connecticut

17
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
358 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$31,149 Median Starting Salary

Located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 70 schools for overall quality in the state of Florida.

There were approximately 358 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Florida State in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduating, english language & literature degree recipients generally earn an average of $31,149 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from Florida State University

18
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, MA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
124 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$23,579 Median Starting Salary

Boston U is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Boston. A Best Colleges rank of #23 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Boston U is a great university overall.

There were about 124 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Boston U in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the english language & literature program earn an average of $23,579 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from Boston University

19
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
216 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
9.7% Growth in Graduates

Located in the midsize suburb of Charlottesville, University of Virginia is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 57 schools for overall quality in the state of Virginia.

There were approximately 216 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at University of Virginia in the most recent year we have data available. Those english language & literature students who get their degree from University of Virginia - Main Campus receive $7,479 more than the typical english language & literature graduate.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from University of Virginia - Main Campus

20
Villanova crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
34 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$37,643 Median Starting Salary

Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #34 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Villanova is a great university overall.

There were roughly 34 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Villanova in the most recent year we have data available. English Language & Literature degree recipients from Villanova University get an earnings boost of about $5,030 over the typical earnings of english language & literature majors.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from Villanova University

21
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
57 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$43,362 Median Starting Salary

Holy Cross is a small private not-for-profit college located in the city of Worcester. This college ranks 9th out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were roughly 57 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Holy Cross in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature degree recipients from College of the Holy Cross get an earnings boost of approximately $10,749 above the typical income of english language & literature graduates.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from College of the Holy Cross

22
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
112 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
0.9% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 56 schools for overall quality in the state of Michigan.

There were about 112 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the english language & literature program report average early career income of $30,840.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from Michigan State University

23
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
138 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$28,526 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 46 schools for overall quality in the state of Wisconsin.

There were about 138 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at UW - Madison in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the english language & literature program earn around $28,526 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from University of Wisconsin - Madison

24
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
180 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$26,917 Median Starting Salary

Located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville, UF is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 70 schools for overall quality in the state of Florida.

There were roughly 180 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at UF in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduating, english language & literature degree recipients generally make about $26,917 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from University of Florida

25
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
140 English Language & Literature Degrees Awarded
$31,002 Median Starting Salary

Located in the medium-sized city of College Station, Texas A&M College Station is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 115 colleges for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were roughly 140 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Texas A&M College Station in the most recent year we have data available. After graduating, english language & literature degree recipients generally earn an average of $31,002 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in english language & literature from Texas A&M University - College Station

Rest of the Top 50 Best English Language & Literature Schools

26
27
Middlebury crest
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT
28
29
Brown crest
Brown University
Providence, RI
30
31
32

33
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

34
35
36
37
Dartmouth crest
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH
38
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
39
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
40
41
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

42
Tufts crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

43
44
45
46
Lehigh crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
47
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, NC
48
Colgate crest
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY
49
50
Barnard crest
Barnard College
New York, NY

Remaining Award Winners

This list represents the remainder of the schools awarded a Best English Language & Literature Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 20% of the 489 different United States english language & literature schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LA
52 California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA
53 University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC
54 Illinois State University Normal, IL
55 Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OH
56 Binghamton University Vestal, NY
57 University of New Hampshire - Main Campus Durham, NH
58 Brandeis University Waltham, MA
59 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
60 University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CA
61 Clemson University Clemson, SC
62 University of Kansas Lawrence, KS
63 University of Georgia Athens, GA
64 Syracuse University Syracuse, NY
65 University at Albany Albany, NY
66 George Mason University Fairfax, VA
67 University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO
68 University of South Florida - Main Campus Tampa, FL
69 Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX
70 Trinity College Hartford, CT
71 Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA
72 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ
73 University of North Texas Denton, TX
74 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC
75 Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH
76 William & Mary Williamsburg, VA
77 Lafayette College Easton, PA
78 University of Central Florida Orlando, FL
79 George Washington University Washington, DC
80 Williams College Williamstown, MA
81 The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TN
82 Emerson College Boston, MA
83 Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN
84 Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY
85 Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA
86 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA
87 Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX
88 University of Rochester Rochester, NY
89 California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA
90 University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT
91 Auburn University Auburn, AL
92 Texas State University San Marcos, TX
93 Emory University Atlanta, GA
94 Iowa State University Ames, IA
95 The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ
96 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA
97 University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best English Language & Literature Schools award.

Rank College Location
98 Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC
99 Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA
100 Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX
101 Sewanee - The University of the South Sewanee, TN
102 The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX
103 University of Houston Houston, TX
104 University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE
105 Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO
106 Northeastern University Boston, MA
107 Temple University Philadelphia, PA
108 Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA
109 University of Dayton Dayton, OH
110 James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA
111 Providence College Providence, RI
112 University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL
113 Gonzaga University Spokane, WA
114 University of Oregon Eugene, OR
115 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI
116 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY
117 San Diego State University San Diego, CA
118 Washington State University Pullman, WA
119 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA
120 Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL
121 University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NM
122 Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
123 Wellesley College Wellesley, MA
124 The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL
125 Rowan University Glassboro, NJ
126 Fairfield University Fairfield, CT
127 University of California - Riverside Riverside, CA
128 University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI
129 San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA
130 Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI
131 St Olaf College Northfield, MN
132 University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA
133 Wheaton College Illinois Wheaton, IL
134 Montclair State University Montclair, NJ
135 Ball State University Muncie, IN
136 Marquette University Milwaukee, WI
137 Arcadia University Glenside, PA
138 Gettysburg College Gettysburg, PA
139 Saint Joseph’s University Philadelphia, PA
140 University of North Carolina at Wilmington Wilmington, NC
141 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY
142 Kansas State University Manhattan, KS
143 Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ
144 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI
145 Bennington College Bennington, VT
146 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC
147 University of Miami Coral Gables, FL
148 Grinnell College Grinnell, IA
149 Kenyon College Gambier, OH
150 Smith College Northampton, MA
151 University of Massachusetts - Lowell Lowell, MA
152 Salisbury University Salisbury, MD
153 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC
154 University of Dallas Irving, TX
155 Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
156 California State University - Northridge Northridge, CA
157 DePauw University Greencastle, IN
158 Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
159 California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CA
160 Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH
161 Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL
162 American University Washington, DC
163 University of Denver Denver, CO

English Language & Literature by Region

View the Best English Language & Literature Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

View All Rankings >

English Language & Literature Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
General English Literature 37,414
Writing Studies 13,544
English Literature (Other) 977
Literature 769

View All English Language & Literature Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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