2026 Best English Schools in California
English programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their english programs.
College Factual analyzed 181 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best english schools.
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Best Schools for English in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the english degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in English
Our analysis ranked University Of Southern California the best school in the country for a degree in english. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 49 english degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from University Of Southern California earn around $75,677 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,875 to complete this degree.
Get the full english details for University Of Southern California
A rank of #2 makes Santa Clara University one of the top schools for english. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 english students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. English graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $79,380 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,144.
See the full english program report for Santa Clara University
Students looking for a strong english program will find one at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 250 english degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $27,889. Students borrow a median of $14,376 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in english from University Of California Los Angeles
San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in english, ranking #4. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 79 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
Students looking for a strong english program will find one at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 221 english degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the english program make about $27,462 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,500.
Read more about the english program at University Of California Berkeley
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 58 english degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $34,718. Students borrow a median of $23,956 to complete this degree.
See the full english program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Scripps College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Claremont. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 english degrees were awarded at Scripps College in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in english from Scripps College
Pomona College came in at #8 for english this year. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 11 english students who graduated with this degree at Pomona College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Pomona College generally make around $75,954.
Read more about the english program at Pomona College
University Of California Davis placed #9 among the best english schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 144 english students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. English graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $25,477 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,900 to complete this degree.
See the full english program report for University Of California Davis
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #10 for english this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 132 english degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $24,099 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,550 to complete this degree.
Read more about the english program at University Of California Santa Barbara
California State University Long Beach came in at #11 for english this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 292 english degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $29,425. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $13,749 in student loans.
See the full english program report for California State University Long Beach
Chapman University came in at #12 for english this year. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 43 english degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from Chapman University earn around $40,861 in the first couple years of their career. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans.
Get the full english details for Chapman University
Sonoma State University came in at #13 for english this year. Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Sonoma State University awarded about 68 english degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $31,282 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,239 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in english from Sonoma State University
California State University Sacramento landed the #14 spot for english this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 164 english degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $32,531 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
See the full english program report for California State University Sacramento
University Of California Irvine came in at #15 for english this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. About 87% of students finish within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 160 english degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $26,021. Students borrow a median of $18,176 to complete this degree.
Read more about the english program at University Of California Irvine
San Diego State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 130 english degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from San Diego State University earn around $24,157 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,997 to complete this degree.
See the full english program report for San Diego State University
Stanford University earned the #17 position for english this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 47 english degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from Stanford University earn around $30,544 in the first couple years of their career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
See the full english program report for Stanford University
California State University Fullerton earned the #18 position for english this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. California State University Fullerton awarded about 159 english degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $29,133. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $13,812 in student loans.
See the full english program report for California State University Fullerton
San Francisco State University landed the #19 spot for english this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. San Francisco State University awarded about 124 english degrees in the most recent data year. English graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $34,395 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,243.
See the full english program report for San Francisco State University
University Of California Riverside placed #20 among the best english schools. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. About 76% of students finish within six years. University Of California Riverside awarded about 115 english degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from University Of California Riverside earn around $23,139 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Riverside graduates carry a median of $18,284 in student loans.
Get the full english details for University Of California Riverside
California Lutheran University came in at #21 for english this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Thousand Oaks. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 english students who graduated with this degree at California Lutheran University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from California Lutheran University earn around $53,271 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,890 to complete this degree.
Get the full english details for California Lutheran University
San Diego Mesa College came in at #22 for english this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. San Diego Mesa College graduates 92% of students within six years. About 32 english degrees were awarded at San Diego Mesa College in the most recent year. Graduates of the english program make about $29,852 in their early career. San Diego Mesa College graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans.
More information about a degree in english from San Diego Mesa College
Vanguard University Of Southern California ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best english schools. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 english students who graduated with this degree at Vanguard University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $80,727 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,111 to complete this degree.
See the full english program report for Vanguard University Of Southern California
California State University San Marcos landed the #24 spot for english this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of San Marcos. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 62 english degrees were awarded at California State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from California State University San Marcos earn around $29,638 in the first couple years of their career. California State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
Get the full english details for California State University San Marcos
California State University Dominguez Hills landed the #25 spot for english this year. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. California State University Dominguez Hills graduates 43% of students within six years. There were roughly 53 english students who graduated with this degree at California State University Dominguez Hills in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from California State University Dominguez Hills earn around $52,683 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,886.
See the full english program report for California State University Dominguez Hills
Rest of the Top 50 English Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong english education:
View All English Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 181 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.
