General English Literature degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. 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 247 schools to find the best for general english literature students.
Georgetown University tops our 2026 ranking of the best general english literature schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 66 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 $53,813 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
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Lafayette College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general english literature, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at Lafayette College in the most recent data year. General English Literature graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $59,513 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general english literature, ranking #3. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 101 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year.
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Colgate University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general english literature, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 31 general english literature degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. General English Literature graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $48,008 early in their careers. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $15,875 in student loans.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general english literature, landing the #5 spot this year. 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 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $42,134. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans.
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Cornell University earned the #6 position for general english literature this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 51 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general english literature program make about $33,270 in their early career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $16,275 in student loans.
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Barnard College landed the #7 spot for general english literature this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Barnard College graduates 93% of students within six years. Barnard College awarded about 48 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $40,414. Barnard College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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Drexel University placed #8 among the best general english literature schools. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Drexel University graduates 78% of students within six years. Drexel University awarded about 13 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general english literature program make about $67,556 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete this degree.
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University Of Maryland College Park landed the #9 spot for general english literature this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 114 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general english literature degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $36,561 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Bernard M Baruch College landed the #10 spot for general english literature this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College in the most recent data year. General English Literature graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of $61,459 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Union College New York came in at #11 for general english literature this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Schenectady. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Union College New York awarded about 13 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general english literature program make about $52,020 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,869 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania earned the #12 position for general english literature this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 61 general english literature degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Students who receive their general english literature degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $40,967 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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University Of Maryland Baltimore County placed #13 among the best general english literature schools. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. University Of Maryland Baltimore County graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland Baltimore County in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general english literature degree from University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn around $27,547 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Swarthmore College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best general english literature schools. Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Swarthmore. Swarthmore College graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at Swarthmore College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general english literature degree from Swarthmore College earn around $66,971 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Suny At Binghamton landed the #15 spot for general english literature this year. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. Suny At Binghamton awarded about 94 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $35,237. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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Ramapo College Of New Jersey placed #16 among the best general english literature schools. Set in the suburb of Mahwah, Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public institution. Ramapo College Of New Jersey graduates 70% of students within six years. About 22 general english literature degrees were awarded at Ramapo College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Students who receive their general english literature degree from Ramapo College Of New Jersey earn around $48,545 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,014 to complete this degree.
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West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #17 spot for general english literature this year. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 56 general english literature degrees were awarded at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year.
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George Washington University came in at #18 for general english literature this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 general english literature degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. General English Literature graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $38,985 early in their careers. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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The College Of New Jersey earned the #19 position for general english literature this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Ewing. The College Of New Jersey graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 85 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general english literature degree from The College Of New Jersey earn around $49,423 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Princeton University earned the #20 position for general english literature this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Princeton University awarded about 49 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $35,178. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
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Stony Brook University placed #21 among the best general english literature schools. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 92 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general english literature degree from Stony Brook University earn around $29,480 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,606 to complete this degree.
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University Of Rochester earned the #22 position for general english literature this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Rochester awarded about 44 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general english literature program make about $35,053 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #23 among the best general english literature schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 158 general english literature students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $35,838. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
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Skidmore College landed the #24 spot for general english literature this year. Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 50 general english literature degrees were awarded at Skidmore College in the most recent year. General English Literature graduates of Skidmore College earn a median of $26,058 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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Haverford College came in at #25 for general english literature this year. Haverford College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Haverford. Haverford College graduates 90% of students within six years. Haverford College awarded about 12 general english literature degrees in the most recent data year.
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Rest of the Top 50 General English Literature Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general english literature ranking:
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 · 247 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).
