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2023 Most Focused Colleges for English Language & Literature in the Plains States Region

171 Ranked Colleges
3,442 Degrees Awarded
$27,300 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 54,635 people earned their degree in English language and literature, making the major the 18th most popular in the United States. 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 the Plains States region, there were 3,442 English language and literature graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,647 and $24,669 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 171 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank English Language & Literature Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most 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 the Plains States Region

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

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for English Language & Literature in the Plains States Region

1

Out of the 171 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #1 spot on the list. This small school is located in Morris, Minnesota, and it awarded 21 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at UMN Morris

2
BLC crest
Bethany Lutheran College
Mankato, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bethany Lutheran College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 8 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Bethany Lutheran College

3
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Hamline University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hamline University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 73 degrees to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Hamline University

4
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Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Truman State University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region. Truman State University is a small public school situated in Kirksville, Missouri. It awarded 76 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Truman State

5
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Grinnell College
Grinnell, Iowa

Out of the 171 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Grinnell College landed the #5 spot on the list. This small school is located in Grinnell, Iowa, and it awarded 27 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Grinnell English Language & Literature Report

6
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Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa

Cornell College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Cornell College is a small school located in Mount Vernon, Iowa that handed out 17 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Cornell College English Language & Literature Report

7
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Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

Carleton College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Carleton is a small school located in Northfield, Minnesota that handed out 27 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Carleton English Language & Literature Report

8
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Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 105 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Lindenwood University

9
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St Olaf College
Northfield, Minnesota

St Olaf College ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region list. St Olaf College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northfield, Minnesota. It awarded 44 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%.

Full St. Olaf English Language & Literature Report

10
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Coe College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Coe College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Coe is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s English language and literature degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Coe College

11
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Macalester College
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Macalester College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Macalester is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 26 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at Macalester

12
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College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, Minnesota

College of Saint Benedict ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region list. CSB is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Joseph, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at CSB

13
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Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, and it awarded 17 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, 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 88%.

Full Gustavus Adolphus College English Language & Literature Report

14
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Northern State University
Aberdeen, South Dakota

Northern State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and it awarded 14 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.

Full NSU English Language & Literature Report

15
Drury University crest
Drury University
Springfield, Missouri

Drury University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 18 degrees to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Drury University

16
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Concordia College at Moorhead
Moorhead, Minnesota

With a ranking of #16, Concordia College at Moorhead did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region list. Concordia College Moorhead is located in Moorhead, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s English language and literature degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Concordia College Moorhead

17
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Luther College
Decorah, Iowa

Luther College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decorah, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Luther College English Language & Literature Report

18
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Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri

Stephens College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Stephens is a small school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 6 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Stephens

19
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William Jewell College
Liberty, Missouri

William Jewell College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Liberty, Missouri, and it awarded 8 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at William Jewell College

20
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 363 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about English Language & Literature at University of Iowa

21
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Central College
Pella, Iowa

Central College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Central is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pella, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Central College

22
Kansas City Art Institute crest
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, Missouri

With a ranking of #22, Kansas City Art Institute did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 5 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Kansas City Art Institute

23
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Black Hills State University
Spearfish, South Dakota

Black Hills State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Black Hills State University is a small public school situated in Spearfish, South Dakota. It awarded 18 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about English Language & Literature at BHSU

24
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Augsburg University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Augsburg University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 25 diplomas to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Augsburg University

25

University of Northwestern - St Paul came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Northwestern is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 21 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full Northwestern English Language & Literature Report

Rest of the Best 26 in Schools Highly Focused on English Language & Literature Major in the Plains States Region

Not only did these schools make the top 26 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26

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