2026 Best Comparative Literature Master’s Degree Schools

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

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 101 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for comparative literature students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Master’s Degree Comparative Literature Schools
• Other Degree Levels

Best Schools for Comparative Literature in the United States

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

Top Schools in Comparative Literature

1

Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

11 Comparative Literature Degrees Awarded

$81,992 Median Starting Salary

Dartmouth College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in comparative literature. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Comparative Literature graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $81,992 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,989. See the full comparative literature program report for Dartmouth College

2

The University Of Texas At Dallas
Richardson, TX

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

10 Comparative Literature Degrees Awarded

$31,993 Median Starting Salary

The University Of Texas At Dallas is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in comparative literature, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public university. About 76% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At Dallas awarded about 10 comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Comparative Literature graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $31,993 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,156. Get the full comparative literature details for The University Of Texas At Dallas

Other Comparative Literature Degree Levels

Explore the best comparative literature schools at other degree levels:

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 101 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.