2027 Best Value General English Literature Schools in Illinois
[General English Literature](/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general english literature schools.
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2027 Best Value General English Literature Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general english literature, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General English Literature Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Chicago, our #1 best value for general english literature in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $18,750. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $31,066. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Dominican University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general english literature schools. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,828. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the general english literature program here. Early-career general english literature graduates make about $45,546. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general english literature, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $20,961. Early-career general english literature graduates make about $37,031. That is a strong return on a $20,961 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Springfield came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value general english literature schools. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,557, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $32,574. General English Literature graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $39,358 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,574 median debt. University Of Illinois At Springfield admits about 86% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Illinois University earned it the #5 place for general english literature. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $25,053. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $31,933. That is a strong return on a $25,053 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Chicago ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value general english literature schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the general english literature program here. General English Literature graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $44,397 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Western Illinois University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general english literature schools. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. General English Literature graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Early-career general english literature graduates make about $36,430. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #8 for value in general english literature this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. General English Literature graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career general english literature graduates make about $36,594. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University came in at #9 for value in general english literature this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $25,375. General English Literature graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $38,938 early in their careers. Set against $25,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general english literature schools. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,092. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $25,250. General English Literature graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $31,420 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general english literature schools. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $24,145. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Aurora University landed the #12 spot for general english literature value this year. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,170. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $24,507. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $51,483. Set against $24,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Aurora University admits about 81% of applicants.
Illinois State University landed the #13 spot for general english literature value this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. General English Literature graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. General English Literature graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $39,563 early in their careers. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Elmhurst College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value general english literature schools. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,955. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $33,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago earned the #15 position for value in general english literature this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,088. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $26,557. Early-career general english literature graduates make about $29,160. That is a strong return on a $26,557 median debt. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Wheaton College Illinois landed the #16 spot for general english literature value this year. Located in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,546 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the general english literature program here. General English Literature graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $32,723 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wheaton College Illinois admits about 87% of applicants.
Lake Forest College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value general english literature schools. Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lake Forest. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,402. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $32,982. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value general english literature schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. General English Literature graduates carry a median of $15,564 in student loans. General English Literature graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $31,748 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University came in at #19 for value in general english literature this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Students borrow a median of $23,499 to complete the general english literature program here. Early-career general english literature graduates make about $28,660. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value general english literature schools. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $26,000. General English Literature graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $28,640 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
