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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Literature Bachelor’s Degree Schools

10 Colleges in the United States
372 Literature Degrees Awarded
$35,297 Avg Early-Career Salary

Literature degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their literature programs.

College Factual analyzed 120 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best literature schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Literature in the United States

Below are the best literature schools at the bachelor’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.

Top Schools in Literature

1
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

Leading the list is New York University, our #1 school for literature. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 92 literature degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Literature graduates of New York University earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. See the full literature program report for New York University

2

Sewanee The University Of The South came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best literature schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Sewanee. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 33 literature degrees were awarded at Sewanee The University Of The South in the most recent 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

3

Pace University New York is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in literature, landing the #3 spot this year. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Pace University New York graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 literature students who graduated with this degree at Pace University New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their literature degree from Pace University New York earn around $25,758 in the first couple years of their career. Pace University New York graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in literature from Pace University New York

4

Students looking for a strong literature program will find one at Miami University Oxford, which ranked #4. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 19 literature degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Literature graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $49,700 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,177. See the full literature program report for Miami University Oxford

5
Hamilton College crest
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY

Hamilton College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in literature, landing the #5 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Clinton. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 literature students who graduated with this degree at Hamilton College in the most recent data year. Literature graduates of Hamilton College earn a median of $48,806 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete this degree. Read more about the literature program at Hamilton College

6

University Of California Los Angeles earned the #6 position for literature this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 16 literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the literature program make about $22,704 in their early career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $13,093 in student loans. Get the full literature details for University Of California Los Angeles

7

Boise State University landed the #7 spot for literature this year. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 literature students who graduated with this degree at Boise State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $49,059. Typical student debt for the program is $24,311. Get the full literature details for Boise State University

8
American University crest
American University
Washington, DC

American University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best literature schools. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 25 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. American University graduates carry a median of $26,105 in student loans. Read more about the literature program at American University

9
The New School crest
The New School
New York, NY

The New School ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best literature schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 32 literature degrees were awarded at The New School in the most recent year. Graduates of the literature program make about $25,618 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,750. Get the full literature details for The New School

10

University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #10 among the best literature schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 66 literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $23,868. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full literature program report for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

11
Grove City College crest
Grove City College
Grove City, PA

Grove City College came in at #11 for literature this year. Located in the town of Grove City, Grove City College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 literature students who graduated with this degree at Grove City College in the most recent data year. Get the full literature details for Grove City College

12
Bennington College crest
Bennington College
Bennington, VT

Bennington College ranked #12 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. Bennington College graduates 71% of students within six years. Bennington College awarded about 11 literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their literature degree from Bennington College earn around $18,152 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the literature program at Bennington College

Other Literature Degree Levels

Explore the best literature schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Literature
Associate's Degrees in Literature
Master's Degrees in Literature
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View All Literature Rankings >

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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 · 120 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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