English Language & Literature is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 620 schools to find the best for english language & literature students.
Georgetown University tops our 2027 ranking of the best english language & literature schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 41 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $52,122. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
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Carnegie Mellon University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best english language & literature schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $53,254 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
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Yale University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in english language & literature, ranking #3. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 68 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $41,045. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
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Students looking for a strong english language & literature program will find one at College Of William And Mary, which ranked #4. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 65 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $40,697 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Boston College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best english language & literature schools. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Boston College awarded about 66 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $41,878 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,832 to complete this degree.
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Colgate University earned the #6 position for english language & literature this year. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Colgate University awarded about 30 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Colgate University generally make around $48,008. Typical student debt for the program is $15,875.
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Bates College landed the #7 spot for english language & literature this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lewiston. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 29 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Bates College in the most recent year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $40,233 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,226.
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Lafayette College earned the #8 position for english language & literature this year. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Lafayette College graduates 88% of students within six years. Lafayette College awarded about 26 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Lafayette College generally make around $59,513. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
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Northwestern University earned the #9 position for english language & literature this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $31,748. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $15,564 in student loans.
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Middlebury College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best english language & literature schools. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 27 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Middlebury College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Middlebury College generally make around $75,793. Middlebury College graduates carry a median of $19,092 in student loans.
More information about a degree in english language & literature from Middlebury College
Bowdoin College placed #11 among the best english language & literature schools. Located in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 20 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Bowdoin College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Bowdoin College generally make around $49,421. Typical student debt for the program is $20,658.
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San Jose State University came in at #12 for english language & literature this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 105 english language & literature degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #13 among the best english language & literature schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 103 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $40,092 in their early career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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Dartmouth College came in at #14 for english language & literature this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 33 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. English Language & Literature graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $45,157 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,407 to complete this degree.
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Wesleyan University earned the #15 position for english language & literature this year. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Wesleyan University graduates 93% of students within six years. Wesleyan University awarded about 55 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $39,764 in their early career. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
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Wake Forest University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best english language & literature schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wake Forest University awarded about 30 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $31,449. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Texas Christian University came in at #17 for english language & literature this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. Texas Christian University graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Texas Christian University earn around $60,035 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,960.
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Cornell University came in at #18 for english language & literature this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 30 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $33,270 in their early career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $16,275 in student loans.
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New York University landed the #19 spot for english language & literature this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 169 english language & literature degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from New York University generally make around $46,292. New York University graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans.
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Brown University earned the #20 position for english language & literature this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. About 96% of students finish within six years. Brown University awarded about 87 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $32,823. Students borrow a median of $10,615 to complete this degree.
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Johns Hopkins University came in at #21 for english language & literature this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 76 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $43,524 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,728.
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Barnard College landed the #22 spot for english language & literature this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Barnard College awarded about 48 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $40,414. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Vanderbilt University placed #23 among the best english language & literature schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $34,633 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,420.
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Lehigh University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best english language & literature schools. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $70,321 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,707 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in english language & literature from Lehigh University
Princeton University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best english language & literature schools. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $35,178 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 English Language & Literature Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s english language & literature ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 620 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
