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.
College Factual analyzed 120 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best literature schools.
DEBUG: Checking offer "English (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "English (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "English (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "English (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "English (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "English (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget
Choosing a Great Literature School
The literature program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Literature Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each 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.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Literature Schools list, to help you decide. 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.
DEBUG: Checking offer "English (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "English (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "English (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "English (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "English (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "English (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget
ADBLOCK #171
Best Schools for Literature in the United States
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 literature degrees they offer, see the list below.
New York University tops our 2026 ranking of the best literature schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 130 literature degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
See the full literature program report for New York University
A rank of #2 makes Sewanee The University Of The South one of the top schools for literature. Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Sewanee. Sewanee The University Of The South graduates 80% of students within six years. Sewanee The University Of The South awarded about 35 literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from Sewanee The University Of The South generally make around $36,927. Sewanee The University Of The South graduates carry a median of $22,091 in student loans.
Get the full literature details for Sewanee The University Of The South
Pace University New York is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in literature, landing the #3 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Pace University New York awarded about 33 literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from Pace University New York generally make around $25,758. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full literature program report for Pace University New York
Miami University Oxford is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in literature, ranking #4. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 literature students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $49,700. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans.
More information about a degree in literature from Miami University Oxford
Hamilton College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in literature, ranking #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Clinton. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 17 literature degrees were awarded at Hamilton College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from Hamilton College generally make around $48,806. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in literature from Hamilton College
George Mason University earned the #6 position for literature this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 31 literature degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Graduates of the literature program make about $63,131 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in literature from George Mason University
University Of California Los Angeles placed #7 among the best literature schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. About 16 literature degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their literature degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $22,704 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,093 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in literature from University Of California Los Angeles
Boise State University landed the #8 spot for literature this year. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. Boise State University awarded about 13 literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the literature program make about $49,059 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,311.
Get the full literature details for Boise State University
American University came in at #9 for literature this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 literature degrees were awarded at American University in the most recent year. Students who receive their literature degree from American University earn around $23,164 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,105.
See the full literature program report for American University
The New School ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best literature schools. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. The New School awarded about 32 literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the literature program make about $25,618 in their early career. The New School graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in literature from The New School
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #11 spot for literature this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 66 literature degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $27,061. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in literature from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Simmons College earned the #12 position for literature this year. Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 literature students who graduated with this degree at Simmons College in the most recent data year. Literature graduates of Simmons College earn a median of $63,860 early in their careers. Simmons College graduates carry a median of $26,740 in student loans.
See the full literature program report for Simmons College
Grove City College landed the #13 spot for literature this year. Set in the town of Grove City, Grove City College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Grove City College awarded about 16 literature degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the literature program at Grove City College
Northern Arizona University earned the #14 position for literature this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. About 61% of students finish within six years. Northern Arizona University awarded about 12 literature degrees in the most recent data year. Literature graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $47,056 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete this degree.
Get the full literature details for Northern Arizona University
Bennington College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best literature schools. Bennington College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Bennington. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 11 literature degrees were awarded at Bennington College in the most recent year. Literature graduates of Bennington College earn a median of $18,152 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full literature details for Bennington College
Capital Community College landed the #16 spot for literature this year. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 26 literature students who graduated with this degree at Capital Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. Typical student debt for the program is $12,059.
See the full literature program report for Capital Community College
Tyler Junior College came in at #17 for literature this year. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. Tyler Junior College awarded about 20 literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $43,348. Students borrow a median of $14,869 to complete this degree.
Get the full literature details for Tyler Junior College
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 120 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).