2027 Best English Schools in Illinois
English is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their english programs.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best english schools.
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Best Schools for English in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall english education in Illinois.
Top Schools in English
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in english. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 49 english students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $31,748. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $15,564 in student loans.
See the full english program report for Northwestern University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for english. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 92 english degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $37,031. Typical student debt for the program is $20,961.
More information about a degree in english from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in english, ranking #3. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 31 english degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from University Of Chicago earn around $44,397 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
See the full english program report for University Of Chicago
A rank of #4 makes Wheaton College Illinois one of the top schools for english. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 english degrees were awarded at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from Wheaton College Illinois earn around $32,723 in the first couple years of their career. Wheaton College Illinois graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Read more about the english program at Wheaton College Illinois
A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the top schools for english. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 97 english students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. English graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $31,066 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,750.
Get the full english details for University Of Illinois At Chicago
Illinois State University landed the #6 spot for english this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 105 english degrees in the most recent data year. English graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $39,563 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,125.
Get the full english details for Illinois State University
Loyola University Chicago came in at #7 for english this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 51 english degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the english program make about $28,640 in their early career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in english from Loyola University Chicago
Elmhurst College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best english schools. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Elmhurst College graduates 70% of students within six years. Elmhurst College awarded about 15 english degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $33,947 in their early career. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in english from Elmhurst College
Depaul University landed the #9 spot for english this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 63 english students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from Depaul University earn around $28,660 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,499.
More information about a degree in english from Depaul University
Aurora University placed #10 among the best english schools. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Aurora University graduates 60% of students within six years. About 10 english degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $51,483. Typical student debt for the program is $24,507.
See the full english program report for Aurora University
Northeastern Illinois University placed #11 among the best english schools. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 english students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. English graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $36,594 early in their careers. Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Get the full english details for Northeastern Illinois University
Lake Forest College placed #12 among the best english schools. Set in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Lake Forest College graduates 78% of students within six years. About 12 english degrees were awarded at Lake Forest College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $32,982. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full english details for Lake Forest College
Northern Illinois University came in at #13 for english this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. Northern Illinois University awarded about 59 english degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $38,938. Typical student debt for the program is $25,375.
Read more about the english program at Northern Illinois University
Dominican University landed the #14 spot for english this year. Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Dominican University graduates 55% of students within six years. About 10 english degrees were awarded at Dominican University in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from Dominican University earn around $45,546 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,236.
See the full english program report for Dominican University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #15 position for english this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates 55% of students within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 43 english degrees in the most recent data year. English graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $31,420 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,250.
See the full english program report for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Eastern Illinois University came in at #16 for english this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 66 english degrees were awarded at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent year. English graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $31,933 early in their careers. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $25,053 in student loans.
Get the full english details for Eastern Illinois University
Western Illinois University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best english schools. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. There were roughly 20 english students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english program make about $36,430 in their early career. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans.
Get the full english details for Western Illinois University
Columbia College Chicago came in at #18 for english this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 english students who graduated with this degree at Columbia College Chicago in the most recent data year. English graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $29,160 early in their careers. Columbia College Chicago graduates carry a median of $26,557 in student loans.
More information about a degree in english from Columbia College Chicago
University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #19 position for english this year. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. About 52% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Springfield awarded about 22 english degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english degree from University Of Illinois At Springfield earn around $39,358 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Springfield graduates carry a median of $32,574 in student loans.
See the full english program report for University Of Illinois At Springfield
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #20 among the best english schools. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 16 english degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Students who receive their english degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $24,145 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500.
See the full english program report for Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 20 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.