2027 Best Value Comparative Literature Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Comparative Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/comparative-literature/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value comparative literature schools.
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2027 Best Value Comparative Literature Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in comparative literature, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Comparative Literature Schools
For return on investment in comparative literature, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $51,372. Set against $11,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Princeton University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in comparative literature, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $10,888. Early-career comparative literature graduates make about $67,532. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value comparative literature schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $20,836. Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Delaware is a great value for students pursuing a degree in comparative literature, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Students borrow a median of $24,861 to complete the comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $54,155. That is a strong return on a $24,861 median debt. University Of Delaware admits about 71% of applicants.
Stony Brook University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value comparative literature schools. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $19,001 in student loans. Early-career comparative literature graduates make about $24,407. Set against $19,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #6 position for value in comparative literature this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University At Buffalo came in at #7 for value in comparative literature this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $19,125. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $26,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Suny At Binghamton placed #8 among the best values for comparative literature. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,567, while out-of-state students pay about $30,447. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $26,353. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Swarthmore College came in at #9 for value in comparative literature this year. Located in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,494 in tuition and fees. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career comparative literature graduates make about $66,971. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value comparative literature schools. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $24,249. Comparative Literature graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $16,796 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
Cornell University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value comparative literature schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $15,500. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $75,976. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #12 position for value in comparative literature this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $16,155. Early-career comparative literature graduates make about $99,682. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Barnard College placed #13 among the best values for comparative literature. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,888. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $17,609. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $50,790. Set against $17,609 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of Rochester landed the #14 spot for comparative literature value this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,080. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $60,865. Set against $21,517 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Bryn Mawr College came in at #15 for value in comparative literature this year. Located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,920. Students borrow a median of $23,069 to complete the comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from Bryn Mawr College generally make around $35,668. That is a strong return on a $23,069 median debt. Bryn Mawr College admits about 29% of applicants.
Hofstra University landed the #16 spot for comparative literature value this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,660. Students borrow a median of $24,848 to complete the comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $55,705. Set against $24,848 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Hofstra University admits about 68% of applicants.
New York University came in at #17 for value in comparative literature this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $21,897. Comparative Literature graduates of New York University earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. Set against $21,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Georgetown University placed #18 among the best values for comparative literature. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,089 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the comparative literature program here. Early-career comparative literature graduates make about $28,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgetown University admits about 13% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.
- 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.
