2026 Best Value General English Literature Schools in Iowa
[General English Literature](/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools to find the best return on investment for general english literature students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value General English Literature Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general english literature degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General English Literature Schools
For return on investment in general english literature, no school beat Grinnell College this year. Set in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,196. General English Literature graduates carry a median of $18,059 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from Grinnell College generally make around $38,888. Set against $18,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Northern Iowa earned it the #2 place for general english literature. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $24,274. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $41,870. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Des Moines Area Community College earned it the #3 place for general english literature. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. General English Literature graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans. Early-career general english literature graduates make about $43,121. That is a strong return on a $14,956 median debt.
Iowa State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general english literature, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. General English Literature graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. General English Literature graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $37,811 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Iowa came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general english literature schools. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the general english literature program here. Early-career general english literature graduates make about $34,116. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Luther College placed #6 among the best values for general english literature. Luther College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Decorah. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,120. General English Literature graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General English Literature graduates of Luther College earn a median of $38,490 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Drake University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general english literature schools. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,960. General English Literature graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans. Early-career general english literature graduates make about $56,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
More General English Literature Rankings
View All General English Literature Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
