English Language & Literature is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their english language & literature programs.
College Factual analyzed 371 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best english language & literature schools.
Leading the list is College Of William And Mary, our #1 school for english language & literature. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. College Of William And Mary awarded about 52 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from College Of William And Mary earn around $40,697 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong english language & literature program will find one at University Of Virginia Main Campus, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 148 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $40,092. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong english language & literature program will find one at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 39 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. English Language & Literature graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $34,633 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,420 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong english language & literature program will find one at Virginia Military Institute, which ranked #4. Virginia Military Institute is a small public school located in the town of Lexington. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Military Institute in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of Virginia Military Institute earn a median of $47,915 early in their careers. Virginia Military Institute graduates carry a median of $22,309 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes Wake Forest University one of the top schools for english language & literature. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 34 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. English Language & Literature graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $31,449 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Elon University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best english language & literature schools. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Elon University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 24 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $36,302. Typical student debt for the program is $21,619.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #7 spot for english language & literature this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 97 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $39,155. Students borrow a median of $21,625 to complete this degree.
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Clemson University came in at #8 for english language & literature this year. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 134 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $43,226. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $23,245 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #9 among the best english language & literature schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 123 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $40,247 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $14,794 in student loans.
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Davidson College placed #10 among the best english language & literature schools. Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Davidson. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Davidson College awarded about 17 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $34,707 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,906.
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Tulane University Of Louisiana placed #11 among the best english language & literature schools. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tulane University Of Louisiana awarded about 45 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of $30,318 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,652.
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Sewanee The University Of The South earned the #12 position for english language & literature this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Sewanee. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 52 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Sewanee The University Of The South in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Sewanee The University Of The South generally make around $36,927. Students borrow a median of $21,175 to complete this degree.
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Samford University landed the #13 spot for english language & literature this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Birmingham. About 77% of students finish within six years. Samford University awarded about 15 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Samford University earn around $64,132 in the first couple years of their career. Samford University graduates carry a median of $21,039 in student loans.
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Rhodes College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best english language & literature schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Memphis. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rhodes College awarded about 21 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of Rhodes College earn a median of $40,807 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,545.
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James Madison University placed #15 among the best english language & literature schools. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. James Madison University awarded about 112 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $26,049. Students borrow a median of $22,706 to complete this degree.
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University Of Richmond came in at #16 for english language & literature this year. Located in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 30 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Richmond in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $38,333 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,980 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida placed #17 among the best english language & literature schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 165 english language & literature degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $47,082. Students borrow a median of $16,950 to complete this degree.
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Florida State University placed #18 among the best english language & literature schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Florida State University awarded about 297 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Florida State University earn around $43,649 in the first couple years of their career. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans.
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Emory University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best english language & literature schools. Emory University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. About 91% of students finish within six years. Emory University awarded about 51 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of Emory University earn a median of $30,135 early in their careers. Emory University graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans.
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Lipscomb University landed the #20 spot for english language & literature this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lipscomb University awarded about 17 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $48,949 early in their careers. Lipscomb University graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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University Of Mary Washington earned the #21 position for english language & literature this year. Located in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public university. University Of Mary Washington graduates 66% of students within six years. About 39 english language & literature degrees were awarded at University Of Mary Washington in the most recent year. English Language & Literature graduates of University Of Mary Washington earn a median of $30,540 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,990 to complete this degree.
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George Mason University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best english language & literature schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 145 english language & literature degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $38,254. Typical student debt for the program is $23,221.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best english language & literature schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 159 english language & literature degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $47,961 in their early career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $21,680 in student loans.
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Duke University came in at #24 for english language & literature this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. About 97% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $34,962 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,362.
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Wofford College placed #25 among the best english language & literature schools. Located in the city of Spartanburg, Wofford College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wofford College awarded about 23 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Wofford College generally make around $34,478. Typical student debt for the program is $25,941.
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Rest of the Top 50 English Language & Literature Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong english language & literature education:
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 · 371 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).
