by our College Data Analytics Team
[Literature](/majors/english-language-literature/literature/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong literature education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value literature schools.
What’s on this page:
The right literature school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Literature Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in literature, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in literature, no school beat Capital Community College this year. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. In-state tuition and fees average $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the literature program here. Early-career literature graduates make about $43,086. That is a strong return on a $12,059 median debt.
University Of California Los Angeles is a great value for students pursuing a degree in literature, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Literature graduates carry a median of $13,093 in student loans. Early-career literature graduates make about $22,704. Set against $13,093 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in literature will find it at Tyler Junior College, which ranked #3. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $4,536. Students borrow a median of $14,869 to complete the literature program here. Early-career literature graduates make about $43,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Arizona University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value literature schools. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete the literature program here. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,056. That is a strong return on a $21,645 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in literature will find it at George Mason University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Typical student debt for literature graduates is $23,529. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $63,131. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Boise State University earned the #6 position for value in literature this year. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Literature graduates carry a median of $24,311 in student loans. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $49,059. That is a strong return on a $24,311 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Ave Maria University earned the #7 position for value in literature this year. Set in the rural area of Ave Maria, Ave Maria University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,198. Typical student debt for literature graduates is $19,801. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from Ave Maria University generally make around $40,866. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ave Maria University admits about 41% of applicants.
Sewanee The University Of The South placed #8 among the best values for literature. Set in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,120. Literature graduates carry a median of $22,091 in student loans. Literature graduates of Sewanee The University Of The South earn a median of $36,927 early in their careers. Set against $22,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Sewanee The University Of The South admits about 57% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford placed #9 among the best values for literature. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for literature graduates is $24,177. Literature graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $49,700 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value literature schools. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for literature graduates is $27,414. Early-career literature graduates make about $45,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #11 spot for literature value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Literature graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career literature graduates make about $27,061. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Pace University New York came in at #12 for value in literature this year. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,510. Typical student debt for literature graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from Pace University New York generally make around $25,758. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Bennington College earned the #13 position for value in literature this year. Located in the town of Bennington, Bennington College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,262. Literature graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career literature graduates make about $18,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
New York University earned the #14 position for value in literature this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Literature graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Early-career literature graduates make about $64,516. That is a strong return on a $21,897 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
American University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value literature schools. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,771. Typical student debt for literature graduates is $26,105. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from American University generally make around $23,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
The New School came in at #16 for value in literature this year. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete the literature program here. Literature graduates of The New School earn a median of $25,618 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. The New School admits about 64% of applicants.
Literature is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Literature | 247 |
| English Literature (British and Commonwealth) | 229 |
| Children's and Adolescent Literature | 43 |
| American Literature (United States) | 12 |
View All Literature Concentrations >
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.