General English Literature is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1514 schools to find the best for general english literature students.
Leading the list is Georgetown University, our #1 school for general english literature. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general english literature degree from Georgetown University earn around $52,122 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes Yale University one of the top schools for general english literature. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. Yale University awarded about 56 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. General English Literature 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.
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College Of William And Mary is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general english literature, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. College Of William And Mary awarded about 52 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general english literature 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.
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Students looking for a strong general english literature program will find one at Lafayette College, which ranked #4. 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. Lafayette College awarded about 21 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from Lafayette College generally make around $59,513. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
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Washington University In St Louis is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general english literature, landing the #5 spot this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 25 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general english literature degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $68,303 in the first couple years of their career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #6 among the best general english literature schools. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 71 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #7 among the best general english literature schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 100 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general english literature degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $40,092 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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Boston College landed the #8 spot for general english literature this year. 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 56 general english literature degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. General English Literature graduates of Boston College earn a median of $41,878 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,832 to complete this degree.
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Dartmouth College landed the #9 spot for general english literature this year. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Dartmouth College graduates 96% of students within six years. Dartmouth College awarded about 29 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general english literature program make about $45,157 in their early career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $20,407 in student loans.
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Middlebury College landed the #10 spot for general english literature this year. Set in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 41 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at Middlebury College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general english literature program make about $75,793 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,948.
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Colgate University placed #11 among the best general english literature schools. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 31 general english literature degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general english literature program make about $48,008 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,875.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #12 among the best general english literature schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 92 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. General English Literature graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $37,031 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,961 to complete this degree.
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Bowdoin College landed the #13 spot for general english literature this year. Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. Bowdoin College graduates 95% of students within six years. Bowdoin College awarded about 23 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general english literature program make about $49,421 in their early career. Bowdoin College graduates carry a median of $20,658 in student loans.
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Bates College placed #14 among the best general english literature schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lewiston. About 90% of students finish within six years. Bates College awarded about 19 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from Bates College generally make around $40,233. Students borrow a median of $12,226 to complete this degree.
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Northwestern University placed #15 among the best general english literature schools. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 22 general english literature degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $31,748. Students borrow a median of $15,564 to complete this degree.
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Wesleyan University landed the #16 spot for general english literature this year. Set in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 45 general english literature degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general english literature degree from Wesleyan University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
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University Of Southern California ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general english literature 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. There were roughly 31 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general english literature program make about $75,677 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,875.
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Cornell University placed #18 among the best general english literature schools. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 28 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. General English Literature graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $33,270 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,275 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best general english literature schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 69 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general english literature program make about $33,742 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,937.
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Vanderbilt University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best general english literature schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 27 general english literature degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general english literature program make about $34,633 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,420.
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Texas Christian University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best general english literature schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 general english literature degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general english literature program make about $60,035 in their early career. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans.
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Virginia Military Institute earned the #22 position for general english literature this year. This small public university is located in the town of Lexington. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 general english literature degrees were awarded at Virginia Military Institute in the most recent year. Graduates of the general english literature program make about $47,915 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,309.
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Barnard College came in at #23 for general english literature this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 48 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general english literature program make about $40,414 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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Brown University came in at #24 for general english literature 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 64 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general english literature degree from Brown University earn around $50,437 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,500.
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Butler University earned the #25 position for general english literature this year. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Butler University graduates 79% of students within six years. Butler University awarded about 18 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $68,222. Students borrow a median of $25,351 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 General English Literature Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general english literature education:
The ranking above is published 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).
