[English](/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong english education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 557 schools to find the best return on investment for english students.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earned the #1 spot for value among english schools in the United States. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,464, with out-of-state students paying around $15,414. Typical student debt for english graduates is $15,000. English graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of $61,459 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Princeton University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value english schools. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $35,178. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
Cuny Hunter College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value english schools. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $12,431 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $27,958. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Students looking for strong value in english will find it at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, which ranked #4. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,420. Students borrow a median of $9,848 to complete the english program here. English graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $31,842 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice admits about 57% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Lehman College earned it the #5 place for english. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. English graduates carry a median of $11,391 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $34,337. That is a strong return on a $11,391 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Queens College earned the #6 position for value in english this year. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,538, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $28,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
Cuny City College earned the #7 position for value in english this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Students borrow a median of $13,782 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $27,082. Set against $13,782 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
University Of Florida ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value english schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. English graduates carry a median of $16,950 in student loans. English graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $26,917 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Cuny Brooklyn College earned the #9 position for value in english this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. English graduates carry a median of $11,557 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $29,557. That is a strong return on a $11,557 median debt. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton came in at #10 for value in english this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,812 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $23,783. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
California State University Los Angeles came in at #11 for value in english this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,750 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $23,858. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
California State University Bakersfield ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value english schools. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,087 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,687. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,009. California State University Bakersfield admits about 94% of applicants.
California State University Stanislaus earned the #13 position for value in english this year. Set in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,242, while out-of-state students pay about $20,842. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the english program here. English graduates of California State University Stanislaus earn a median of $14,407 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Cuny College Of Staten Island placed #14 among the best values for english. Located in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,490, with out-of-state students paying around $15,440. Students borrow a median of $17,371 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $26,548. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
California State University San Bernardino ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value english schools. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,088, with out-of-state students paying around $20,688. Typical student debt for english graduates is $13,875. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $23,250. That is a strong return on a $13,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The University Of Texas Pan American ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value english schools. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $24,187. That is a strong return on a $17,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
California State University Dominguez Hills ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value english schools. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,454, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. English graduates carry a median of $15,886 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills generally make around $52,683. That is a strong return on a $15,886 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge came in at #18 for value in english this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. English graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $27,452. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
California State University Sacramento landed the #19 spot for english value this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,018, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $15,000. English graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $32,531 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M International University earned the #20 position for value in english this year. Set in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,894, while out-of-state students pay about $19,454. English graduates carry a median of $15,727 in student loans. English graduates of Texas A And M International University earn a median of $25,077 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,727 median debt. The acceptance rate is 44%.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #21 for value in english this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $14,794. English graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $30,060 early in their careers. Set against $14,794 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fresno placed #22 among the best values for english. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,341 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $24,010. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
California State University Long Beach placed #23 among the best values for english. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Typical student debt for english graduates is $13,749. Early-career english graduates make about $22,933. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value english schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $18,750. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $31,066. That is a strong return on a $18,750 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Florida State University came in at #25 for value in english this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete the english program here. English graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $29,534 early in their careers. Set against $20,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value English Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in english:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 557 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 557 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).
[English](/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong english education at a price that pays off.
