2026 Best Value English Language & Literature Schools in Massachusetts
[English Language & Literature](/majors/english-language-literature/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong english language & literature education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 58 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for english language & literature students.
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2026 Best Value English Language & Literature Schools in Massachusetts
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the english language & literature degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value English Language & Literature Schools
Our analysis ranked Williams College the best value for a degree in english language & literature in Massachusetts. Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamstown. In-state tuition and fees average $68,560. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $13,125 in student loans. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $49,340. That is a strong return on a $13,125 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Harvard University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value english language & literature schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $16,616. English Language & Literature graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $30,838 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in english language & literature will find it at Amherst College, which ranked #3. Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,480. Students borrow a median of $15,398 to complete the english language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $41,979. Set against $15,398 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Amherst College admits about 9% of applicants.
Bay Path College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in english language & literature, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Longmeadow, Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,302. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $29,811. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $59,424. Set against $29,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bay Path College admits about 85% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Worcester State University earned it the #5 place for english language & literature. Set in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,786, while out-of-state students pay about $17,866. Students borrow a median of $26,474 to complete the english language & literature program here. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $33,022. Set against $26,474 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Worcester State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Bridgewater State University earned the #6 position for value in english language & literature this year. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,734 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,874 for out-of-state students. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $46,748. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Fitchburg State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value english language & literature schools. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. Students from in state pay about $11,346 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,426. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $39,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fitchburg State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Framingham State University earned the #8 position for value in english language & literature this year. Located in the city of Framingham, Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,920, compared with $18,000 for out-of-state students. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $37,188. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #9 for value in english language & literature this year. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,960 to complete the english language & literature program here. English Language & Literature graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $35,370 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,960 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Salem State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value english language & literature schools. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,338, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $27,000. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $32,844. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #11 spot for english language & literature value this year. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,966, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $30,408. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #12 for value in english language & literature this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $23,950. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $49,078. That is a strong return on a $23,950 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
Westfield State University came in at #13 for value in english language & literature this year. Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Westfield. In-state tuition and fees average $12,179, with out-of-state students paying around $18,259. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Westfield State University generally make around $46,645. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Wellesley College earned the #14 position for value in english language & literature this year. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,176 in tuition and fees. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Wellesley College generally make around $38,376. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Wellesley College admits about 14% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #15 spot for english language & literature value this year. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,612 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,567. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $28,500. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $31,661. Set against $28,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth admits about 91% of applicants.
Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts placed #16 among the best values for english language & literature. Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts is a small public school located in the town of North Adams. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,436, while out-of-state students pay about $21,381. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the english language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts generally make around $29,677. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Gordon College came in at #17 for value in english language & literature this year. Located in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,700. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Gordon College generally make around $36,462. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Smith College earned the #18 position for value in english language & literature this year. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,178. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $19,000. English Language & Literature graduates of Smith College earn a median of $25,023 early in their careers. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Smith College admits about 21% of applicants.
Boston University came in at #19 for value in english language & literature this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $26,395 in student loans. English Language & Literature graduates of Boston University earn a median of $23,579 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Simmons College landed the #20 spot for english language & literature value this year. Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,874. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $26,740. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $63,860. That is a strong return on a $26,740 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Hampshire College earned the #21 position for value in english language & literature this year. Located in the rural area of Amherst, Hampshire College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,896. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $26,500. English Language & Literature graduates of Hampshire College earn a median of $21,113 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Clark University came in at #22 for value in english language & literature this year. Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,467. Students borrow a median of $26,619 to complete the english language & literature program here. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $22,670. Set against $26,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Assumption College earned the #23 position for value in english language & literature this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Assumption College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $51,356. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the english language & literature program here. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $34,206. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Springfield College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value english language & literature schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,974. Students borrow a median of $27,151 to complete the english language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Springfield College generally make around $49,880. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Holyoke College came in at #25 for value in english language & literature this year. Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Hadley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,018. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. English Language & Literature graduates of Mount Holyoke College earn a median of $22,680 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Rest of the Top 36 Best Value English Language & Literature Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for english language & literature this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 58 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
