English degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1514 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for english students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great English School
Where you study english matters for your future. That is why we built our Best English Schools rankings. For our Best Overall English School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best English Schools list, to help you choose. 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 have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Georgetown University tops our 2026 ranking of the best english schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Georgetown University awarded about 66 english degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from Georgetown University earn around $53,813 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
See the full english program report for Georgetown University
A rank of #2 makes Yale University one of the top schools for english. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 83 english degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. English graduates of Yale University earn a median of $41,045 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
See the full english program report for Yale University
Students looking for a strong english program will find one at College Of William And Mary, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. College Of William And Mary graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 52 english students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from College Of William And Mary earn around $40,697 in the first couple years of their career. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
Get the full english details for College Of William And Mary
Lafayette College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in english, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Lafayette College graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 english students who graduated with this degree at Lafayette College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from Lafayette College earn around $59,513 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
More information about a degree in english from Lafayette College
Students looking for a strong english program will find one at Washington University In St Louis, which ranked #5. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 35 english students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $68,303 in their early career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
Read more about the english program at Washington University In St Louis
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #6 position for english this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 137 english degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. English graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $40,092 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
See the full english program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 101 english students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
Read more about the english program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Dartmouth College came in at #8 for english this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Dartmouth College awarded about 29 english degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $45,157 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,407.
Read more about the english program at Dartmouth College
Northwestern University earned the #9 position for english this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 42 english degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from Northwestern University earn around $31,748 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $15,564 in student loans.
Read more about the english program at Northwestern University
Colgate University came in at #10 for english this year. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 31 english degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Colgate University generally make around $48,008. Typical student debt for the program is $15,875.
More information about a degree in english from Colgate University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #11 among the best english schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 105 english degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the english program make about $37,031 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,961 in student loans.
Get the full english details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Middlebury College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. Middlebury College graduates 91% of students within six years. About 89 english degrees were awarded at Middlebury College in the most recent year. Graduates of the english program make about $75,793 in their early career. Middlebury College graduates carry a median of $15,948 in student loans.
More information about a degree in english from Middlebury College
Bowdoin College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Brunswick. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 english students who graduated with this degree at Bowdoin College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $49,421 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,658.
See the full english program report for Bowdoin College
Bates College came in at #14 for english this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lewiston. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 19 english students who graduated with this degree at Bates College in the most recent data year. English graduates of Bates College earn a median of $40,233 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,226 to complete this degree.
See the full english program report for Bates College
University Of Southern California ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 49 english degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the english program make about $75,677 in their early career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans.
Read more about the english program at University Of Southern California
Boston College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 69 english degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $42,699. Typical student debt for the program is $18,832.
More information about a degree in english from Boston College
Wesleyan University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 english students who graduated with this degree at Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from Wesleyan University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
Get the full english details for Wesleyan University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #18 among the best english schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 19 english degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $42,134 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,958.
More information about a degree in english from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #19 among the best english schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 86 english degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $33,742 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $16,937 in student loans.
More information about a degree in english from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Vanderbilt University landed the #20 spot for english this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Vanderbilt University awarded about 33 english degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $34,633 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,420 to complete this degree.
See the full english program report for Vanderbilt University
Cornell University landed the #21 spot for english this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Cornell University awarded about 51 english degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $33,270 in their early career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $16,275 in student loans.
Get the full english details for Cornell University
Texas Christian University placed #22 among the best english schools. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 24 english degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. English graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $60,035 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,960 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in english from Texas Christian University
Virginia Military Institute ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. Set in the town of Lexington, Virginia Military Institute is a small public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 23 english degrees were awarded at Virginia Military Institute in the most recent year. Graduates of the english program make about $47,915 in their early career. Virginia Military Institute graduates carry a median of $22,309 in student loans.
Get the full english details for Virginia Military Institute
Barnard College placed #24 among the best english schools. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Barnard College awarded about 48 english degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from Barnard College earn around $40,414 in the first couple years of their career. Barnard College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Read more about the english program at Barnard College
Brown University came in at #25 for english this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 73 english students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $50,437 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in english from Brown University
Rest of the Top 50 English Schools
These schools also placed among the best for english this year:
English is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1514 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
