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2023 Best English Language & Literature Colleges for Veterans in Illinois

21 Ranked Colleges
1,614 Degrees Awarded
$30,000 Avg Cost*
Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature

With all of the options veterans have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 “Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature” ranking, we looked at 21 colleges that offer a degree in English language and literature. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality English language and literature programs as well as strong veteran support.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the English language and literature program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran population. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature” list to help you make the college decision.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature”.

Top 21 Best English Language & Literature Colleges for Veterans in Illinois

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature list. UIUC is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 179 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Among the 52,679 students enrolled at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 10 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 0 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $0. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Veteran Student Life Report

2
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 104 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UChicago also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].Among the 17,834 students enrolled at University of Chicago, 241 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 113 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $18,948. To help with additional expenses, 58 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

Full University of Chicago Veteran Student Life Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature list. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 137 ’s English language and literature degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 530 of the 20,720 students enrolled at Illinois State University were GI Bill® students, of which 163 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $6,997. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

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

Full Illinois State University Veteran Student Life Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #4 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 55 ’s English language and literature degrees to qualified students.

SIUE did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Of the 12,860 students enrolled at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 3 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 2 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $23,082. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Veteran Student Life Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The school came in at #5 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature. SIUC is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 30 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Of the 11,366 students enrolled at SIUC, 1 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 0 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $0. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Read More…

6

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 110 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illinois vets studying english language & literature list, UIC has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Of the 33,518 students enrolled at University of Illinois at Chicago, 1 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 1 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $23,878. During this same period, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. University of Illinois at Chicago offers credit for military training for eligible students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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…

7
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago ranked #7 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature list. Loyola Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 64 ’s English language and literature degrees to qualified students.

Loyola Chicago also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Among the 16,893 students enrolled at Loyola University Chicago, 261 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 165 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $17,263. During this same period, 78 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Loyola University Chicago offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Loyola University Chicago Veteran Student Life Report

8
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature ranking. Chicago, Illinois 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 94 students in 2020-2021.

DePaul not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Our most recent data shows that 528 of the 21,922 students enrolled at DePaul University were GI Bill® students, of which 367 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $14,957. To help with additional expenses, 101 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

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

[Read full report on veteran student life at DePaul]](/colleges/depaul-university/student-life/veterans/)

9
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 70 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illinois vets studying english language & literature list, Columbia has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.According to our most recent data, Columbia supports 6,769 students, and 140 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 98 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $17,151. On top of their other funding sources, 25 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full Columbia Veteran Student Life Report

10

Western Illinois University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature ranking. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illinois vets studying english language & literature list, WIU has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Of the 7,490 students enrolled at WIU, 330 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 62 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,652. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Read More…

11

Northern Illinois University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature ranking. NIU is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 58 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.According to our most recent data, Northern Illinois University supports 16,769 students, and 480 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 207 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $7,822. During this same period, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Read More…

12

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature ranking. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 49 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Northeastern Illinois University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Our most recent data shows that 147 of the 7,119 students enrolled at Northeastern Illinois University were GI Bill® students, of which 83 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,460. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Northeastern Illinois University offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Veteran Student Life Report

13
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature ranking. Evanston, Illinois 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 99 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.According to our most recent data, Northwestern University supports 22,603 students, and 1 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 1 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $399. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read More…

14
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature ranking. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s English language and literature degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illinois vets studying english language & literature list, EIU has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 184 of the 8,626 students enrolled at EIU were GI Bill® students, of which 46 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,730. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Read More…

15
Augustana crest
Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois

Augustana College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature ranking. Augustana is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rock Island, Illinois. It awarded 27 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Augustana also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].According to our most recent data, Augustana College supports 2,389 students, and 28 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 14 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $13,990. In addition to receiving other benefits, 4 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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 85%.

Full Augustana Veteran Student Life Report

16

University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature ranking. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illinois vets studying english language & literature list, UIS has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Of the 4,146 students enrolled at UIS, 214 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 106 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,253. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. UIS does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

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

Full UIS Veteran Student Life Report

17
Illinois College crest
Illinois College
Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature ranking. Illinois College is located in Jacksonville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s English language and literature degrees to qualified students.

Illinois College also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].Our most recent data shows that 31 of the 1,154 students enrolled at Illinois College were GI Bill® students, of which 19 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $17,406. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Illinois College]](/colleges/illinois-college/student-life/veterans/)

18
Knox crest
Knox College
Galesburg, Illinois

Knox College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature ranking. Knox is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Galesburg, Illinois. It awarded 30 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Knox not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Our most recent data shows that 15 of the 1,154 students enrolled at Knox were GI Bill® students, of which 6 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $13,371. To help with additional expenses, 1 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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 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.

Full Knox College Veteran Student Life Report

19
Lake Forest crest
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, Illinois

Lake Forest College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Lake Forest, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified ’s English language and literature students in 2020-2021.

Lake Forest also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].Our most recent data shows that 11 of the 1,583 students enrolled at Lake Forest College were GI Bill® students, of which 7 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $23,079. During this same period, 1 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

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

Full Lake Forest Veteran Student Life Report

20
Wheaton College Illinois crest
Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois

With a ranking of #20, Wheaton College Illinois did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature list. This small school is located in Wheaton, Illinois, and it awarded 32 ’s English language and literature degrees in 2020-2021.

Wheaton College Illinois also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.According to our most recent data, Wheaton College Illinois supports 2,908 students, and 56 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 45 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $20,675. During this same period, 29 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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.

Full Wheaton College Illinois Veteran Student Life Report

21

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ranked #21 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for English Language & Literature list. School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illinois vets studying english language & literature list, School of the Art Institute of Chicago has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 55 of the 3,132 students enrolled at School of the Art Institute of Chicago were GI Bill® students, of which 33 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $18,359. To help with additional expenses, 16 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

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.

Read More…

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

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