Literature is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best literature schools.
The school you choose for literature can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Literature Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Literature Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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 literature degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked New York University the best school in the country for a degree in literature. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 115 literature degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Literature graduates of New York University earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
Read more about the literature program at New York University
Sewanee The University Of The South came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best literature schools. Located in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 27 literature students who graduated with this degree at Sewanee The University Of The South in the most recent data year. Students who receive their literature degree from Sewanee The University Of The South earn around $36,927 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,091 to complete this degree.
Get the full literature details for Sewanee The University Of The South
Pace University New York came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best literature schools. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Pace University New York awarded about 40 literature degrees in the most recent data year. Literature graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $25,758 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in literature from Pace University New York
Miami University Oxford came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best literature schools. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 literature degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $49,700. Students borrow a median of $24,177 to complete this degree.
Get the full literature details for Miami University Oxford
American University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best literature schools. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. American University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 literature students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their literature degree from American University earn around $23,164 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,105.
Get the full literature details for American University
Boise State University earned the #6 position for literature this year. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. About 20 literature degrees were awarded at Boise State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $49,059. Boise State University graduates carry a median of $24,311 in student loans.
More information about a degree in literature from Boise State University
George Mason University earned the #7 position for literature this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. George Mason University awarded about 22 literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the literature program make about $63,131 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
Get the full literature details for George Mason University
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #8 spot for literature this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 12 literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $22,704. Students borrow a median of $13,093 to complete this degree.
Read more about the literature program at University Of California Los Angeles
The New School earned the #9 position for literature this year. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 literature degrees were awarded at The New School in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, literature degree recipients from The New School generally make around $25,618. The New School graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans.
See the full literature program report for The New School
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #10 for literature this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 76 literature degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their literature degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $27,061 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the literature program at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Grove City College earned the #11 position for literature this year. Located in the town of Grove City, Grove City College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 24 literature degrees were awarded at Grove City College in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in literature from Grove City College
Bennington College came in at #12 for literature this year. Set in the town of Bennington, Bennington College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 21 literature degrees were awarded at Bennington College in the most recent year. Literature graduates of Bennington College earn a median of $18,152 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full literature program report for Bennington College
Northern Arizona University placed #13 among the best literature schools. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Northern Arizona University graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 literature students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their literature degree from Northern Arizona University earn around $47,056 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $21,645 in student loans.
See the full literature program report for Northern Arizona University
Capital Community College earned the #14 position for literature this year. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. About 37 literature degrees were awarded at Capital Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their literature degree from Capital Community College earn around $43,086 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in literature from Capital Community College
Ave Maria University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best literature schools. Ave Maria University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Ave Maria. Ave Maria University graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 literature students who graduated with this degree at Ave Maria University in the most recent data year. Literature graduates of Ave Maria University earn a median of $40,866 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,801.
Get the full literature details for Ave Maria University
Liberty University earned the #16 position for literature this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 22 literature degrees were awarded at Liberty University in the most recent year. Graduates of the literature program make about $45,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,414 to complete this degree.
See the full literature program report for Liberty University
Tyler Junior College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best literature schools. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. About 19 literature degrees were awarded at Tyler Junior College in the most recent year. Literature graduates of Tyler Junior College earn a median of $43,348 early in their careers. Tyler Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,869 in student loans.
See the full literature program report for Tyler Junior College
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 17 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).
