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2023 Most Focused Colleges for English Language & Literature in Illinois

53 Ranked Colleges
1,614 Degrees Awarded
$30,000 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois” ranking is part of that endeavor.

English Language & Literature is the 18th most popular major in the country with 54,635 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, English language and literature graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $30,352 and had an average of $23,972 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 1,614 English language and literature graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,501 and $23,846 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois” ranking, we looked at 53 colleges that offer a degree in English language and literature. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their English language and literature program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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The english language & literature school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for English Language & Literature in Illinois

1
Knox crest
Knox College
Galesburg, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Knox College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois. Knox College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Galesburg, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at Knox

2
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Illinois College
Jacksonville, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Jacksonville, Illinois, and it awarded 24 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Illinois College English Language & Literature Report

3
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Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia College Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 70 degrees to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.

Full Columbia College Chicago English Language & Literature Report

4
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East-West University
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend East-West University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois list. East-West University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about English Language & Literature at East - West University

5
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Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois Wesleyan University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois list. Bloomington, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Illinois Wesleyan University

6
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Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, Illinois

With a ranking of #6, Lake Forest College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois list. Lake Forest, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lake Forest English Language & Literature Report

7
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Eureka College
Eureka, Illinois

Eureka College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois ranking. Eureka College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Eureka, Illinois. It awarded 6 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at Eureka College

8
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Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois

With a ranking of #8, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois list. Elmhurst University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 39 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at Elmhurst University

9
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Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois

Wheaton College Illinois ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois list. Wheaton College Illinois is located in Wheaton, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s English language and literature degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Wheaton College Illinois English Language & Literature Report

10

School of the Art Institute of Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 27 degrees to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about English Language & Literature at School of the Art Institute of Chicago

11
Augustana crest
Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois

With a ranking of #11, Augustana College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois list. Located in Rock Island, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 27 degrees to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at Augustana College

12
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Blackburn College
Carlinville, Illinois

Blackburn College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois list. Blackburn is a small school located in Carlinville, Illinois that handed out 3 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Blackburn English Language & Literature Report

13
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Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, Illinois

Trinity Christian College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Palos Heights, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Trinity Christian

14

Northeastern Illinois University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 49 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at Northeastern Illinois University

15
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 48 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Eastern Illinois University English Language & Literature Report

16
Illinois State crest
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois list. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 137 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Illinois State University

17
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Monmouth College
Monmouth, Illinois

Monmouth College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Monmouth, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Monmouth College

18

University of Illinois at Springfield ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois list. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at University of Illinois at Springfield

19
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Greenville University
Greenville, Illinois

Greenville University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois ranking. This small school is located in Greenville, Illinois, and it awarded 6 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Greenville

20
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North Park University
Chicago, Illinois

North Park University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois ranking. North Park is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 13 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at North Park

21
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Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois ranking. Bradley University is a medium-sized school located in Peoria, Illinois that handed out 30 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at Bradley

22
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Millikin University
Decatur, Illinois

Millikin University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois ranking. This small school is located in Decatur, Illinois, and it awarded 9 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at Millikin

23

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #23. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 55 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at SIUE

24
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University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #24. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 104 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at University of Chicago

25
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Rockford University
Rockford, Illinois

Rockford University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in Illinois list. Rockford University is a small school located in Rockford, Illinois that handed out 5 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Rockford English Language & Literature Report

Notes and References

References

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