2026 Best Value English Language & Literature Schools in Missouri
[English Language & Literature](/majors/english-language-literature/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 41 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 Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in english language & literature, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value English Language & Literature Schools
For return on investment in english language & literature, no school beat University Of Missouri St Louis this year. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Students borrow a median of $19,625 to complete the english language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $53,079. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Truman State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in english language & literature, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,838, with out-of-state students paying around $18,566. Students borrow a median of $26,743 to complete the english language & literature program here. English Language & Literature graduates of Truman State University earn a median of $17,901 early in their careers. Set against $26,743 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Southern State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in english language & literature, landing the #3 spot this year. Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Joplin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,600, compared with $18,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $22,241. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $39,434. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
College Of The Ozarks came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value english language & literature schools. College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Point Lookout. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,360. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from College Of The Ozarks generally make around $37,944. College Of The Ozarks admits about 12% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri University Of Science And Technology earned it the #5 place for english language & literature. Located in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $25,187 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $74,532. That is a strong return on a $25,187 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #6 among the best values for english language & literature. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $24,125. English Language & Literature graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $32,054 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #7 spot for english language & literature value this year. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,903. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the english language & literature program here. English Language & Literature graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $43,255 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Central Missouri landed the #8 spot for english language & literature value this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Students borrow a median of $17,110 to complete the english language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $45,496. That is a strong return on a $17,110 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #9 among the best values for english language & literature. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $26,442. English Language & Literature graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $46,483 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #10 position for value in english language & literature this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Students borrow a median of $23,182 to complete the english language & literature program here. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $30,488. That is a strong return on a $23,182 median debt. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Lindenwood University placed #11 among the best values for english language & literature. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,600. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $28,663. English Language & Literature graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of $48,018 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Washington University In St Louis landed the #12 spot for english language & literature value this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the english language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $32,350. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Rockhurst University landed the #13 spot for english language & literature value this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,966. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the english language & literature program here. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $70,849. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Missouri came in at #14 for value in english language & literature this year. Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $12,276 in tuition and fees. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $30,251 in student loans. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $24,240. Set against $30,251 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis earned the #15 position for value in english language & literature this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,166. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $67,909. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Webster University placed #16 among the best values for english language & literature. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $31,750. Students borrow a median of $25,939 to complete the english language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Webster University generally make around $57,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Webster University admits about 86% of applicants.
Saint Louis University Main Campus earned the #17 position for value in english language & literature this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,760. Students borrow a median of $26,546 to complete the english language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $33,893. That is a strong return on a $26,546 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 41 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
