English is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 659 schools to find the best for english students.
The school you choose for english can shape your career. To help, we created our Best English Schools rankings. For our Best Overall English School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best English Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked Georgetown University the best school in the country for a degree in english. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 62 english students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. English graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $53,813 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
Read more about the english program at Georgetown University
Yale University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in english, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Yale University awarded about 92 english degrees in the most recent data year. English graduates of Yale University earn a median of $41,045 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
Get the full english details for Yale University
Students looking for a strong english program will find one at College Of William And Mary, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 65 english degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent year. English graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $40,697 early in their careers. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in english from College Of William And Mary
A rank of #4 makes Washington University In St Louis one of the top schools for english. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 23 english degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $68,303 in the first couple years of their career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
Read more about the english program at Washington University In St Louis
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in english, ranking #5. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 49 english degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $31,748. Students borrow a median of $15,564 to complete this degree.
Get the full english details for Northwestern University
Colgate University earned the #6 position for english this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Hamilton. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 30 english degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Colgate University generally make around $48,008. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $15,875 in student loans.
See the full english program report for Colgate University
Bates College landed the #7 spot for english this year. Bates College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lewiston. About 90% of students finish within six years. Bates College awarded about 21 english degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $40,233 in their early career. Bates College graduates carry a median of $12,226 in student loans.
Read more about the english program at Bates College
Lafayette College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best english schools. Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lafayette College awarded about 26 english degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from Lafayette College earn around $59,513 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
See the full english program report for Lafayette College
Bowdoin College came in at #9 for english this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Brunswick. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 english degrees were awarded at Bowdoin College in the most recent year. Graduates of the english program make about $49,421 in their early career. Bowdoin College graduates carry a median of $20,658 in student loans.
More information about a degree in english from Bowdoin College
Brown University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best english schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brown University awarded about 74 english degrees in the most recent data year. English graduates of Brown University earn a median of $50,437 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in english from Brown University
Middlebury College placed #11 among the best english schools. Set in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Middlebury College graduates 91% of students within six years. Middlebury College awarded about 78 english degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $75,793 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,948.
More information about a degree in english from Middlebury College
Dartmouth College came in at #12 for english this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Dartmouth College awarded about 33 english degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from Dartmouth College earn around $45,157 in the first couple years of their career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $20,407 in student loans.
Get the full english details for Dartmouth College
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #13 among the best english schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. About 129 english degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. English graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $40,092 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the english program at University Of Virginia Main Campus
San Jose State University landed the #14 spot for english this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 101 english students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
Read more about the english program at San Jose State University
Boston College landed the #15 spot for english this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 89 english degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from Boston College earn around $42,699 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,832 to complete this degree.
Read more about the english program at Boston College
Wesleyan University landed the #16 spot for english this year. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 93% of students finish within six years. Wesleyan University awarded about 41 english degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $39,764 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
Read more about the english program at Wesleyan University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #17 for english this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 english students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $42,134 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,958.
See the full english program report for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Wake Forest University landed the #18 spot for english this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 36 english degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from Wake Forest University earn around $31,449 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in english from Wake Forest University
Texas Christian University landed the #19 spot for english this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fort Worth. Texas Christian University graduates 85% of students within six years. Texas Christian University awarded about 22 english degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from Texas Christian University earn around $60,035 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,960.
More information about a degree in english from Texas Christian University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #20 among the best english schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 93 english degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $33,742 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,937 to complete this degree.
See the full english program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Cornell University placed #21 among the best english schools. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Cornell University awarded about 34 english degrees in the most recent data year. English graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $33,270 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,275.
More information about a degree in english from Cornell University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #22 among the best english schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 92 english degrees in the most recent data year. English graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $37,031 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,961 in student loans.
More information about a degree in english from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Barnard College landed the #23 spot for english 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. There were roughly 48 english students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $40,414 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
Get the full english details for Barnard College
Vanderbilt University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best english schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 33 english degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $34,633. Typical student debt for the program is $13,420.
Read more about the english program at Vanderbilt University
Lehigh University earned the #25 position for english this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lehigh University awarded about 25 english degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $70,321 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,707 to complete this degree.
Get the full english details for Lehigh University
Rest of the Top 50 English Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s english ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 659 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).
