English Language & 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.
College Factual analyzed 1675 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best english language & literature schools.
Georgetown University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in english language & literature. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 55 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Georgetown University earn around $52,122 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes Yale University one of the top schools for english language & literature. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. Yale University awarded about 56 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $41,045. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong english language & literature program will find one at New York University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. New York University awarded about 174 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of New York University earn a median of $46,292 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes College Of William And Mary one of the top schools for english language & literature. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. College Of William And Mary awarded about 52 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $40,697 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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A rank of #5 makes Lafayette College one of the top schools for english language & literature. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lafayette College awarded about 21 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $59,513 in their early career. Lafayette College graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #6 for english language & literature this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 71 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #7 position for english language & literature this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 111 english language & literature degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $40,092. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Boston College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best english language & literature schools. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 56 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $41,878 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,832.
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Dartmouth College placed #9 among the best english language & literature schools. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 29 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $45,157 early in their careers. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $20,407 in student loans.
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Middlebury College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best english language & literature schools. Set in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 41 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Middlebury College in the most recent year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Middlebury College earn around $75,793 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,092.
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Colgate University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best english language & literature schools. Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 31 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $48,008 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,875 to complete this degree.
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Bowdoin College landed the #12 spot for english language & literature this year. Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. Bowdoin College graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Bowdoin College in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of Bowdoin College earn a median of $49,421 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,658.
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Bates College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best english language & literature schools. Bates College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lewiston. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Bates College in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of Bates College earn a median of $40,233 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,226.
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Northwestern University earned the #14 position for english language & literature this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 23 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $31,748 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,564.
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Wesleyan University placed #15 among the best english language & literature schools. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. About 93% of students finish within six years. Wesleyan University awarded about 51 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of Wesleyan University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
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Cornell University landed the #16 spot for english language & literature this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 35 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $33,270 early in their careers. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $16,275 in student loans.
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Vanderbilt University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best english language & literature schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 33 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $34,633 in the first couple years of their career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,420 in student loans.
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Texas Christian University landed the #18 spot for english language & literature this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fort Worth. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Texas Christian University awarded about 29 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $60,035. Typical student debt for the program is $22,960.
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Virginia Military Institute placed #19 among the best english language & literature schools. Located in the town of Lexington, Virginia Military Institute is a small public university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Virginia Military Institute awarded about 23 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of Virginia Military Institute earn a median of $47,915 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,309 to complete this degree.
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Barnard College earned the #20 position for english language & 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 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Barnard College earn around $40,414 in the first couple years of their career. Barnard College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best english language & literature schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 91 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $31,543 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,112.
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Johns Hopkins University came in at #22 for english language & literature this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 76 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $43,524 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,728.
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Washington University In St Louis came in at #23 for english language & literature this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $32,350. Typical student debt for the program is $17,553.
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University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned the #24 position for english language & literature this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 16 english language & literature degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $65,183 in their early career. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #25 among the best english language & literature schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 116 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $25,928 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,162.
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Rest of the Top 50 English Language & Literature Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s english language & literature ranking:
This list is compiled 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 · 1675 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).
