Best Colleges for English Language and Literature, General

English Language and Literature graduates earn an average of $29,088 annually, making program selection crucial for career success. With 653 schools offering this major, students should prioritize institutions with strong alumni networks, diverse course offerings, and experienced faculty who maintain active connections to publishing, media, and education industries. Look for programs that emphasize both critical analysis and practical writing skills, offer internship opportunities, and provide access to literary journals or campus publications. Consider schools with solid career services that help connect graduates to entry-level positions in teaching, publishing, journalism, or content creation. The quality of mentorship and professional development resources can significantly impact post-graduation employment prospects in this competitive field.

Schools Ranked

$43,679

Avg. Program Earnings

78.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	Santa Clara University Santa Clara, California	$47,260	88.5%	private-nonprofit
2	Yale University New Haven, Connecticut	$47,260	96.3%	private-nonprofit
3	Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey	$47,260	97.1%	private-nonprofit
4	Brown University Providence, Rhode Island	$46,790	95.9%	private-nonprofit
5	Rice University Houston, Texas	$46,087	95.7%	private-nonprofit
6	Virginia Military Institute Lexington, Virginia	$46,087	81.8%	public
7	Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, California	$45,696	69.0%	private-nonprofit
8	Monmouth University West Long Branch, New Jersey	$45,500	70.3%	private-nonprofit
9	College of the Holy Cross Worcester, Massachusetts	$44,590	89.6%	private-nonprofit
10	Texas A & M University-Commerce Commerce, Texas	$44,384	45.9%	public
11	Trinity College Hartford, Connecticut	$43,128	82.8%	private-nonprofit
12	Georgetown University Washington, District of Columbia	$43,128	94.3%	private-nonprofit
13	Fairfield University Fairfield, Connecticut	$42,682	83.8%	private-nonprofit
14	Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, Illinois	$42,682	82.5%	private-nonprofit
15	Villanova University Villanova, Pennsylvania	$42,682	92.4%	private-nonprofit
16	University of Houston-Clear Lake Houston, Texas	$42,682	50.9%	public
17	The University of Texas Permian Basin Odessa, Texas	$42,682	43.0%	public
18	Marymount University Arlington, Virginia	$42,235	57.9%	private-nonprofit
19	Barnard College New York, New York	$41,937	92.9%	private-nonprofit
20	Boston College Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts	$41,667	91.0%	private-nonprofit
21	Texas Southmost College Brownsville, Texas	$41,565	26.8%	public
22	Colby College Waterville, Maine	$41,193	90.2%	private-nonprofit
23	St. Mary's University San Antonio, Texas	$41,007	58.8%	private-nonprofit
24	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$40,896	95.0%	private-nonprofit
25	Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, North Carolina	$40,896	90.9%	private-nonprofit