College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2023 Most Popular Colleges for English Language & Literature

1,653 Ranked Colleges
54,635 Degrees Awarded
$32,400 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major” 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.

This year’s “Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major” ranking looked at 1,653 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in English language and literature. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular English language and literature programs in the United States.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank English Language & Literature Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More English Language & Literature Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 “Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major”.

1
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Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, New Hampshire

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern New Hampshire University. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major. Manchester, New Hampshire is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 1,333 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about English Language & Literature at SNHU

2

Out of the 1,653 schools in the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Central Florida landed the #2 spot on the list. UCF is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 420 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Central Florida English Language & Literature Report

3
Full Sail University crest
Full Sail University
Winter Park, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Full Sail University. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major. Full Sail University is a large private for-profit school situated in Winter Park, Florida. It awarded 437 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Full Sail University English Language & Literature Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arizona State University - Skysong. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major list. ASU - Skysong is located in Scottsdale, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 406 ’s English language and literature degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at ASU - Skysong

5
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Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida State University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this large public school handed out 377 diplomas to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Florida State University

6

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 352 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities English Language & Literature Report

7

University of California - Los Angeles came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 348 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 University of California - Los Angeles English Language & Literature Report

8

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major ranking. University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is a large public school situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It awarded 418 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Pitt

9
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Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

With a ranking of #9, Old Dominion University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major list. Norfolk, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 327 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about English Language & Literature at Old Dominion University

10

University of California - Berkeley came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major ranking. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 314 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at University of California - Berkeley

11
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major ranking, coming in at #11. 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full Iowa English Language & Literature Report

12

California State University - Long Beach came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major ranking. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 298 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 full report on English Language & Literature at California State University - Long Beach

13

University of California - Riverside came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major ranking. UCR is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 291 ’s English language and literature degrees to qualified students.

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

Read full report on English Language & Literature at University of California - Riverside

14

With a ranking of #14, Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major list. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 300 students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Columbia University in the City of New York English Language & Literature Report

15

Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Tempe, Arizona, this large public school awarded 255 degrees to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Arizona State University - Tempe English Language & Literature Report

16

The University of Texas at Austin ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major list. UT Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 310 ’s English language and literature degrees 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at UT Austin

17
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, New York

Hunter College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major ranking. Hunter is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 235 ’s English language and literature degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Hunter College English Language & Literature Report

18
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major ranking, coming in at #18. SFSU is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 233 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at San Francisco State University

19

University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major list. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 225 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about English Language & Literature at University of South Florida - Main Campus

20
Texas State crest
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major list. Texas State is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 223 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Texas State University English Language & Literature Report

21
WCUPA crest
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #21, West Chester University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major list. West Chester, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 218 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about English Language & Literature at West Chester University of Pennsylvania

22

University of New Mexico - Main Campus landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major ranking. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this large public school handed out 217 degrees to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at University of New Mexico - Main Campus

23

University of California - Davis landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major ranking. UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 210 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at University of California - Davis

24
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida ranked #24 on this year’s Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 209 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about English Language & Literature at UF

25
Emerson crest
Emerson College
Boston, Massachusetts

Emerson College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major ranking. Emerson College is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 208 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Emerson English Language & Literature Report

Rest of the Best 50 in Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
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New York University
New York, New York
26
28
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Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington
29
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia
30
31
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Blinn College
Brenham, Texas
32
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University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
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41
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Binghamton University
Vestal, New York
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Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Most Well Attended English Language & Literature Major

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
51Miami University - OxfordOxford, OH
51University of Maryland - College ParkCollege Park, MD
53University of HoustonHouston, TX
54George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA
55Clemson UniversityClemson, SC
55Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ
57The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL
58University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO
59Queens CollegeQueens, NY
60The New SchoolNew York, NY
61University of Nevada - Las VegasLas Vegas, NV
61Grand Valley State UniversityAllendale, MI
61University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT
64University of Phoenix - ArizonaTempe, AZ
65Metropolitan State University of DenverDenver, CO
RankCollegeLocation
66Montclair State UniversityMontclair, NJ
66Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL
68North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, NC
69Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA
69Rutgers University - New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ
69Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD
72Portland State UniversityPortland, OR
73California State University - San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CA
74Utah State UniversityLogan, UT
75Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY
75The City College of New YorkNew York, NY
77University of North Carolina at WilmingtonWilmington, NC
78Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, GA
79San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA
80University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT
81Ohio University - Athens CampusAthens, OH
82The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX
82University of GeorgiaAthens, GA
82Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA
82Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA
86University of New Hampshire - Main CampusDurham, NH
87Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, GA
87Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA
89University of Massachusetts - BostonBoston, MA
89Brooklyn CollegeBrooklyn, NY
RankCollegeLocation
89San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CA
92Washington State UniversityPullman, WA
93Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton, FL
93California State Polytechnic University - PomonaPomona, CA
95University of Maryland Global CampusAdelphi, MD
96Purdue University - Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN
96The University of Tennessee - KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN
96James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, VA
99Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI
100University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL
100Fordham UniversityBronx, NY
100Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA
100Colorado State University - Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO
104Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ
105University at AlbanyAlbany, NY
105College of Staten Island CUNYStaten Island, NY
105University of DelawareNewark, DE
108Missouri State University - SpringfieldSpringfield, MO
108Lindenwood UniversitySaint Charles, MO
108University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA
111University of ChicagoChicago, IL
111The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TX
113University of MemphisMemphis, TN
113University of South Carolina - ColumbiaColumbia, SC
113University of California - San DiegoLa Jolla, CA
RankCollegeLocation
116Appalachian State UniversityBoone, NC
117Brown UniversityProvidence, RI
117Chapman UniversityOrange, CA
117California State University - Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA
117Boston UniversityBoston, MA
117San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena, TX
122Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL
123Boise State UniversityBoise, ID
123Brigham Young University - IdahoRexburg, ID
125University of Massachusetts - LowellLowell, MA
126DePaul UniversityChicago, IL
126University of Nebraska - LincolnLincoln, NE
126Indiana University - BloomingtonBloomington, IN
129Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TX
129Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA
129Lehman CollegeBronx, NY
129Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA
133Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main CampusIndiana, PA
133Citrus CollegeGlendora, CA
133SUNY New PaltzNew Paltz, NY
136Bridgewater State UniversityBridgewater, MA
136California State University - FresnoFresno, CA
138The University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso, TX
138Grand Canyon UniversityPhoenix, AZ
138Kean UniversityUnion, NJ
RankCollegeLocation
138Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA
138University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro, NC
143University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI
143California Polytechnic State University - San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA
145Vermont College of Fine ArtsMontpelier, VT
145University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI
145Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA
145Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, GA
149Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park, CA
149Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY
149National UniversityLa Jolla, CA
149Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA
149Towson UniversityTowson, MD
154University of VermontBurlington, VT
154University of North FloridaJacksonville, FL
154Kent State University at KentKent, OH
154University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR
158California State University - StanislausTurlock, CA
158Bard CollegeAnnandale-On-Hudson, NY
158West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV
161University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY
161University of Wisconsin - Eau ClaireEau Claire, WI
161East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC
161University of KansasLawrence, KS
165Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC
RankCollegeLocation
165Weber State UniversityOgden, UT
167University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA
167Oakland UniversityRochester Hills, MI
167University of DenverDenver, CO
170California State University - San MarcosSan Marcos, CA
170University of Nebraska at OmahaOmaha, NE
170University of Southern MainePortland, ME
170University of KentuckyLexington, KY
170California State University - BakersfieldBakersfield, CA
175University of Mary WashingtonFredericksburg, VA
176University of Louisiana at LafayetteLafayette, LA
177Utah Valley UniversityOrem, UT
177Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN
177University of Missouri - ColumbiaColumbia, MO
180Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY
181Truman State UniversityKirksville, MO
182Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT
182Rutgers University - CamdenCamden, NJ
182Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR
182University of Nevada - RenoReno, NV
182University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDenver, CO
182Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN
188California State University - ChicoChico, CA
188Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT
190Washington University in St LouisSaint Louis, MO
RankCollegeLocation
190California State University - Dominguez HillsCarson, CA
190Hamline UniversitySaint Paul, MN
193University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI
193Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TX
193Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, WA
196The College of New JerseyEwing, NJ
196Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA
196Columbia College ChicagoChicago, IL
196Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NY
200Montana State UniversityBozeman, MT
200University of Cincinnati - Main CampusCincinnati, OH
200Eastern Washington UniversityCheney, WA
200American Public University SystemCharles Town, WV
200East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, TN
205University of OregonEugene, OR
205Monmouth UniversityWest Long Branch, NJ
205California State University - East BayHayward, CA
205Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI
209Marshall UniversityHuntington, WV
209University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN
209University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY
212University of Arkansas at Little RockLittle Rock, AR
212The University of MontanaMissoula, MT
214University of New OrleansNew Orleans, LA
214William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA
RankCollegeLocation
214Indiana University - Purdue University - IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN
217Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY
217Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL
217Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA
217Salisbury UniversitySalisbury, MD
217Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock, PA
222Austin Community College DistrictAustin, TX
222Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL
222Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham CampusMadison, NJ
222Pasadena City CollegePasadena, CA
226Ithaca CollegeIthaca, NY
226The University of Tennessee - ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN
226Chaffey CollegeRancho Cucamonga, CA
226William Paterson University of New JerseyWayne, NJ
230Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro, TN
231Baylor UniversityWaco, TX
231Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA
231University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL
231The College at BrockportBrockport, NY
231Youngstown State UniversityYoungstown, OH
231Cleveland State UniversityCleveland, OH
237University of Alabama in HuntsvilleHuntsville, AL
237University of Southern MississippiHattiesburg, MS
237Oklahoma State University - Main CampusStillwater, OK
237College of the Holy CrossWorcester, MA
RankCollegeLocation
237College of CharlestonCharleston, SC
237Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH
237Rutgers University - NewarkNewark, NJ
244Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL
244University of Central OklahomaEdmond, OK
244University of WyomingLaramie, WY
247El Camino CollegeTorrance, CA
247Stanford UniversityStanford, CA
247University of MississippiUniversity, MS
247University of RochesterRochester, NY
247Bennington CollegeBennington, VT

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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