2026 Best English Language & Literature Schools in the The Plains States Region
English Language & Literature degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 177 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for english language & literature students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for English Language & Literature in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall english language & literature education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in English Language & Literature
University Of St Thomas Minnesota is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in english language & literature. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 26 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn around $65,183 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,923.
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A rank of #2 makes Creighton University one of the top schools for english language & literature. Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 17 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Creighton University in the most recent year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Creighton University earn around $64,369 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong english language & literature program will find one at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 224 english language & literature degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $38,172. Students borrow a median of $22,303 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Washington University In St Louis one of the top schools for english language & literature. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 62 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $32,350 in the first couple years of their career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes Missouri University Of Science And Technology one of the top schools for english language & literature. Located in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Missouri University Of Science And Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $74,532 in their early career. Missouri University Of Science And Technology graduates carry a median of $25,187 in student loans.
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Macalester College placed #6 among the best english language & literature schools. Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Macalester College graduates 87% of students within six years. Macalester College awarded about 23 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Macalester College earn around $29,487 in the first couple years of their career. Macalester College graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
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Concordia College At Moorhead ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best english language & literature schools. Concordia College At Moorhead is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moorhead. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Concordia College At Moorhead in the most recent year. English Language & Literature graduates of Concordia College At Moorhead earn a median of $44,611 early in their careers. Concordia College At Moorhead graduates carry a median of $26,637 in student loans.
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Grinnell College placed #8 among the best english language & literature schools. Located in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 16 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Grinnell College in the most recent year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $38,888 in their early career. Grinnell College graduates carry a median of $18,059 in student loans.
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Rockhurst University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best english language & literature schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 13 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Rockhurst University in the most recent year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Rockhurst University earn around $70,849 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
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University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #10 for english language & literature this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 109 english language & literature degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $30,488. Students borrow a median of $23,182 to complete this degree.
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St Olaf College landed the #11 spot for english language & literature this year. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at St Olaf College in the most recent data year. English Language & Literature graduates of St Olaf College earn a median of $29,398 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,715 to complete this degree.
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Maryville University Of Saint Louis landed the #12 spot for english language & literature this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn around $67,909 in the first couple years of their career. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans.
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Fort Hays State University came in at #13 for english language & literature this year. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Fort Hays State University awarded about 101 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $49,775 in their early career. Fort Hays State University graduates carry a median of $25,967 in student loans.
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Nebraska Wesleyan University landed the #14 spot for english language & literature this year. Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lincoln. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Nebraska Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Nebraska Wesleyan University generally make around $52,199. Nebraska Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $27,667 in student loans.
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University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #15 position for english language & literature this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. University Of Nebraska Lincoln awarded about 66 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $31,749 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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Concordia University Saint Paul came in at #16 for english language & literature this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul generally make around $54,835. Typical student debt for the program is $29,026.
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Emporia State University placed #17 among the best english language & literature schools. Set in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Emporia State University graduates 56% of students within six years. About 24 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Emporia State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their english language & literature degree from Emporia State University earn around $46,440 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,131 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #18 spot for english language & literature this year. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public university. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Minnesota Duluth awarded about 34 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $35,118 in their early career. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates carry a median of $24,191 in student loans.
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Iowa State University earned the #19 position for english language & literature this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 82 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $37,811. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
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Drake University earned the #20 position for english language & literature this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Des Moines. About 73% of students finish within six years. About 22 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Drake University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. Drake University graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans.
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Kansas State University placed #21 among the best english language & literature schools. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Kansas State University graduates 71% of students within six years. About 55 english language & literature degrees were awarded at Kansas State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $31,364 in their early career. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans.
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University Of Northern Iowa ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best english language & literature schools. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 20 english language & literature degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $41,870 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,274 to complete this degree.
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Augustana College South Dakota placed #23 among the best english language & literature schools. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Augustana College South Dakota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Augustana College South Dakota graduates 73% of students within six years. Augustana College South Dakota awarded about 14 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from Augustana College South Dakota generally make around $36,247. Augustana College South Dakota graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri St Louis earned the #24 position for english language & literature this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 53 english language & literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri St Louis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, english language & literature degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $53,079. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates carry a median of $19,625 in student loans.
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College Of Saint Benedict earned the #25 position for english language & literature this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Joseph, College Of Saint Benedict is a small private not-for-profit university. College Of Saint Benedict graduates 77% of students within six years. College Of Saint Benedict awarded about 12 english language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the english language & literature program make about $47,105 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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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:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 177 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.