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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best English Schools in North Carolina

13 Colleges in the United States
910 English Degrees Awarded
$39,795 Avg Early-Career Salary

English is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their english programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 47 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for english students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for English in North Carolina

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the english degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in English

1
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in english. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. About 89% of students finish within six years. Wake Forest University awarded about 34 english degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $31,449 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. Read more about the english program at Wake Forest University

2

Elon University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Elon University awarded about 21 english degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from Elon University earn around $36,302 in the first couple years of their career. Elon University graduates carry a median of $21,619 in student loans. See the full english program report for Elon University

3

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 123 english students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. English graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $40,247 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,794 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in english from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

4
Davidson College crest
Davidson College
Davidson, NC

Students looking for a strong english program will find one at Davidson College, which ranked #4. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Davidson. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 15 english students who graduated with this degree at Davidson College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $34,707 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,906 to complete this degree. Get the full english details for Davidson College

5
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

A rank of #5 makes Duke University one of the top schools for english. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. Duke University awarded about 32 english degrees in the most recent data year. English graduates of Duke University earn a median of $34,962 early in their careers. Duke University graduates carry a median of $15,362 in student loans. Read more about the english program at Duke University

6

North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #6 position for english this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 136 english degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Graduates of the english program make about $34,130 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,680 to complete this degree. Get the full english details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh

7
High Point University crest
High Point University
High Point, NC

High Point University came in at #7 for english this year. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. High Point University awarded about 15 english degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. Typical student debt for the program is $23,785. Read more about the english program at High Point University

8

University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Charlotte. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 123 english degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn around $33,330 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,071 to complete this degree. Get the full english details for University Of North Carolina At Charlotte

9

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. About 71% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington awarded about 44 english degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $24,384. Students borrow a median of $24,636 to complete this degree. See the full english program report for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

10

Appalachian State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 103 english students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State University in the most recent data year. English graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $23,397 early in their careers. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $21,430 in student loans. More information about a degree in english from Appalachian State University

11

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned the #11 position for english this year. This large public university is located in the city of Greensboro. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 79 english students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $29,494 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. Get the full english details for University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

12
Gardner Webb University crest
Gardner Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC

Gardner Webb University placed #12 among the best english schools. Set in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 english degrees were awarded at Gardner Webb University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Gardner Webb University generally make around $63,220. Gardner Webb University graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. See the full english program report for Gardner Webb University

13

North Carolina Central University earned the #13 position for english this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Durham. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 english degrees were awarded at North Carolina Central University in the most recent year. Graduates of the english program make about $42,873 in their early career. North Carolina Central University graduates carry a median of $31,173 in student loans. More information about a degree in english from North Carolina Central University

14

University Of North Carolina At Asheville came in at #14 for english this year. Located in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Asheville awarded about 30 english degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from University Of North Carolina At Asheville earn around $19,136 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Asheville graduates carry a median of $23,752 in student loans. See the full english program report for University Of North Carolina At Asheville

15

Fayetteville State University placed #15 among the best english schools. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 38% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 english students who graduated with this degree at Fayetteville State University in the most recent data year. English graduates of Fayetteville State University earn a median of $41,449 early in their careers. Fayetteville State University graduates carry a median of $27,869 in student loans. Get the full english details for Fayetteville State University

16

East Carolina University placed #16 among the best english schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Greenville. About 63% of students finish within six years. East Carolina University awarded about 53 english degrees in the most recent data year. English graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $29,133 early in their careers. East Carolina University graduates carry a median of $25,400 in student loans. More information about a degree in english from East Carolina University

17

Western Carolina University landed the #17 spot for english this year. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. Western Carolina University graduates 60% of students within six years. Western Carolina University awarded about 47 english degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from Western Carolina University earn around $29,891 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. More information about a degree in english from Western Carolina University

18

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earned the #18 position for english this year. Set in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 17% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 english students who graduated with this degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earn around $54,863 in the first couple years of their career. Get the full english details for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 47 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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