Comparative Literature is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their comparative literature programs.
College Factual analyzed 28 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best comparative literature schools.
Where you study comparative literature matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Comparative Literature Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Comparative Literature Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Columbia University In The City Of New York, our #1 school for comparative literature. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 34 comparative literature degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their comparative literature degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $86,770 in the first couple years of their career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong comparative literature program will find one at Stanford University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stanford University awarded about 11 comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Comparative Literature graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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Students looking for a strong comparative literature program will find one at Yale University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 comparative literature degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Graduates of the comparative literature program make about $74,578 in their early career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes New York University one of the top schools for comparative literature. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their comparative literature degree from New York University earn around $64,516 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in comparative literature, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 comparative literature degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $30,524. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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University Of Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot for comparative literature this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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Brown University placed #7 among the best comparative literature schools. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 19 comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their comparative literature degree from Brown University earn around $62,820 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete this degree.
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Princeton University placed #8 among the best comparative literature schools. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
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Dartmouth College came in at #9 for comparative literature this year. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 15 comparative literature degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Comparative Literature graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $81,992 early in their careers. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #10 for comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 comparative literature degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Students who receive their comparative literature degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $27,699 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,124.
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University Of Southern California landed the #11 spot for comparative literature this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
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Barnard College earned the #12 position for comparative literature this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Barnard College graduates 93% of students within six years. About 14 comparative literature degrees were awarded at Barnard College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $50,790. Typical student debt for the program is $17,609.
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University Of California Santa Barbara placed #13 among the best comparative literature schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 comparative literature degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Graduates of the comparative literature program make about $27,629 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,100.
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University Of California Berkeley earned the #14 position for comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 43 comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their comparative literature degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $25,059 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans.
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University Of Connecticut earned the #15 position for comparative literature this year. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 comparative literature degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Students who receive their comparative literature degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $58,784 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete this degree.
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Boston University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best comparative literature schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the comparative literature program make about $63,598 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Davis came in at #17 for comparative literature this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California Davis awarded about 13 comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their comparative literature degree from University Of California Davis earn around $22,965 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $16,079 in student loans.
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University Of California Irvine landed the #18 spot for comparative literature this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 21 comparative literature degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Comparative Literature graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $50,958 early in their careers. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans.
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Occidental College earned the #19 position for comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. There were roughly 15 comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Occidental College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from Occidental College generally make around $41,514. Occidental College graduates carry a median of $22,967 in student loans.
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Williams College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best comparative literature schools. Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamstown. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 14 comparative literature degrees were awarded at Williams College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from Williams College generally make around $53,652. Typical student debt for the program is $12,615.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #21 among the best comparative literature schools. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 20 comparative literature degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $20,334. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Cruz placed #22 among the best comparative literature schools. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of California Santa Cruz awarded about 103 comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $21,793. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates carry a median of $17,491 in student loans.
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Suny At Binghamton ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best comparative literature schools. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. Suny At Binghamton graduates 82% of students within six years. About 12 comparative literature degrees were awarded at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent year. Comparative Literature graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $26,353 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Dallas placed #24 among the best comparative literature schools. Located in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public university. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 76 comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their comparative literature degree from The University Of Texas At Dallas earn around $31,993 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,156 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best comparative literature schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Students who receive their comparative literature degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $18,393 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,580 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 28 Comparative Literature Schools
These schools also placed among the best for comparative literature this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 28 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).
