2027 Best English Language & Literature Schools in the Southeast Region
English Language & Literature degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. 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 154 schools to find the best for english language & literature students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for English Language & Literature in the Southeast Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the english language & literature degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in English Language & Literature
College Of William And Mary is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in english language & literature. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 65 english language & literature degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $40,697. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in english language & literature, ranking #2. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 139 english language & literature degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent 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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A rank of #3 makes Wake Forest University one of the top schools for english language & literature. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 36 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $31,449. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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A rank of #4 makes Vanderbilt University one of the top schools for english language & literature. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 38 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $34,633 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,420 to complete this degree.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best english language & literature schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 85 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $39,155. Typical student debt for the program is $21,625.
See the full english language & literature program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Davidson College landed the #6 spot for english language & literature this year. Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Davidson. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Davidson College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $34,707 in their early career. Davidson College graduates carry a median of $19,906 in student loans.
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Virginia Military Institute earned the #7 position for english language & literature this year. Virginia Military Institute is a small public school located in the town of Lexington. About 76% of students finish within six years. Virginia Military Institute awarded about 13 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Virginia Military Institute generally make around $47,915. Students borrow a median of $22,309 to complete this degree.
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University Of Richmond ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best english language & literature schools. Located in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. University Of Richmond graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Richmond awarded about 32 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $38,333 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,980 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #9 among the best english language & literature schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 128 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $40,247 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $14,794 in student loans.
More information about a degree in english language & literature from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Washington And Lee University placed #10 among the best english language & literature schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lexington. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 14 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Washington And Lee University in the most recent year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Washington And Lee University earn around $76,810 in the first couple years of their career. Washington And Lee University graduates carry a median of $20,074 in student loans.
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Elon University earned the #11 position for english language & literature this year. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Elon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $36,302 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete this degree.
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Clemson University earned the #12 position for english language & literature this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 129 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $43,115. Typical student debt for the program is $23,245.
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Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best english language & literature schools. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit institution. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. About 48 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $30,318 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,652 to complete this degree.
See the full english language & literature program report for Tulane University Of Louisiana
Sewanee The University Of The South landed the #14 spot for english language & literature this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Sewanee. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 51 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Sewanee The University Of The South in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Sewanee The University Of The South generally make around $36,927. Sewanee The University Of The South graduates carry a median of $21,175 in student loans.
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Emory University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best english language & literature schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Atlanta. About 91% of students finish within six years. Emory University awarded about 54 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $30,180 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
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Samford University earned the #16 position for english language & literature this year. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Samford University awarded about 10 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $64,132. Typical student debt for the program is $21,039.
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James Madison University landed the #17 spot for english language & literature this year. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. James Madison University awarded about 93 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $26,049 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,706.
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Florida State University placed #18 among the best english language & literature schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 309 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $43,649 in their early career. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans.
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University Of Florida ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best english language & literature schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 162 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $47,082. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $16,950 in student loans.
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Rhodes College placed #20 among the best english language & literature schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Memphis. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Rhodes College awarded about 22 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of Rhodes College earn a median of $40,807 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,545.
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Lipscomb University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best english language & literature schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Lipscomb University graduates 72% of students within six years. About 14 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. English Language & Literature graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $48,949 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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George Mason University earned the #22 position for english language & literature this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. George Mason University awarded about 153 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $38,191 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,221.
More information about a degree in english language & literature from George Mason University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #23 position for english language & literature this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 141 english language & literature degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $47,562. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $21,680 in student loans.
More information about a degree in english language & literature from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Wofford College earned the #24 position for english language & literature this year. Set in the city of Spartanburg, Wofford College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Wofford College graduates 84% of students within six years. About 15 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Wofford College in the most recent year. English Language & Literature graduates of Wofford College earn a median of $34,478 early in their careers. Wofford College graduates carry a median of $25,941 in student loans.
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Spelman College came in at #25 for english language & literature this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Atlanta. Spelman College graduates 78% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Spelman College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $31,129 in their early career. Spelman College graduates carry a median of $25,564 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 English Language & Literature Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong english language & literature education:
Honorable Mentions
Also worth considering for english language & literature:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 154 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.