2026 Best Value English Language & Literature Schools in Virginia
[English Language & Literature](/majors/english-language-literature/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 42 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value english language & literature schools.
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2026 Best Value English Language & Literature Schools in Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the english language & literature degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value English Language & Literature Schools
Leading the list is Old Dominion University, our #1 best value for english language & literature in Virginia. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $26,103. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $35,723. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
George Mason University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value english language & literature schools. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,221 to complete the english language & literature program here. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $38,254. That is a strong return on a $23,221 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Virginias College At Wise came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value english language & literature schools. Set in the town of Wise, The University Of Virginias College At Wise is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,780, with out-of-state students paying around $28,010. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $17,714. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from The University Of Virginias College At Wise generally make around $43,988. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 28%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia Military Institute earned it the #4 place for english language & literature. Set in the town of Lexington, Virginia Military Institute is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,046, with out-of-state students paying around $52,638. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $22,309. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $47,915. Set against $22,309 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Radford University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value english language & literature schools. Radford University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Radford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,548, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the english language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $25,407. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Randolph College came in at #6 for value in english language & literature this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Randolph College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $30,310 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $25,041. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $43,197. Set against $25,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Randolph College admits about 94% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #7 spot for english language & literature value this year. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the english language & literature program here. English Language & Literature graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $27,005 early in their careers. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary Washington landed the #8 spot for english language & literature value this year. Set in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,905, with out-of-state students paying around $28,083. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $23,990. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from University Of Mary Washington generally make around $30,540. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University landed the #9 spot for english language & literature value this year. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $27,000. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $23,986. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
James Madison University landed the #10 spot for english language & literature value this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Students borrow a median of $22,706 to complete the english language & literature program here. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $26,049. That is a strong return on a $22,706 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Longwood University placed #11 among the best values for english language & literature. Set in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,740 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,980. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $40,167. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Longwood University admits about 90% of applicants.
Christopher Newport University landed the #12 spot for english language & literature value this year. Located in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,828, compared with $31,178 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the english language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Christopher Newport University generally make around $29,310. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Christopher Newport University admits about 86% of applicants.
College Of William And Mary ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value english language & literature schools. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $40,697. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of William And Mary admits about 34% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in english language & literature this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $40,092. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Hollins University earned the #15 position for value in english language & literature this year. Located in the suburb of Roanoke, Hollins University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,560. English Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. English Language & Literature graduates of Hollins University earn a median of $25,876 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #16 among the best values for english language & literature. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,625 to complete the english language & literature program here. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $39,155. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Roanoke College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value english language & literature schools. Set in the suburb of Salem, Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,068. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $26,940. Early-career english language & literature graduates make about $19,925. That is a strong return on a $26,940 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Liberty University landed the #18 spot for english language & literature value this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Students borrow a median of $24,850 to complete the english language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $35,171. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Richmond placed #19 among the best values for english language & literature. University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of University of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $65,230. Typical student debt for english language & literature graduates is $22,980. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from University Of Richmond generally make around $38,333. That is a strong return on a $22,980 median debt. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
