Best Schools for English Language and Literature, General

English Language and Literature, General graduates earn a median of $49,451 within four years of graduating, ranking #238 out of 283 tracked majors — 21% below the median across all fields. There are 693 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 32,703 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Stanford University graduates earn $82,036 while Indiana University-Northwest graduates earn $29,768 — a $52,268 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is moderate: English Language and Literature, General graduates see an average 7% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

693

Schools

$49,451

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#238

of 283 Majors

32,703

Graduates

Public vs Private: English Language and Literature, General

Public (403 schools)

$47,233

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (289 schools)

$54,364

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $7,131 more in early earnings on average for English Language and Literature, General graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

English Language and Literature, General by State

Also by state: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Top English Language and Literature, General Schools by Graduate Earnings

Stanford University

Stanford, CA · Private

$82,036

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

2yr: $23,649 (22)

1yr: $44,251 (20)

Acceptance: 3.9%

Seattle University

Seattle, WA · Private

$78,906

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

2yr: $30,988 (21)

Acceptance: 76.0%

Georgetown University

Washington, DC · Private

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC · Private

$77,847

4yr Earnings

27 grads · small sample

2yr: $40,896 (33)

1yr: $43,018 (20)

Acceptance: 21.6%

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA · Private

Howard University

Washington, DC · Private

$73,929

4yr Earnings

20 grads · small sample

2yr: $33,993 (32)

1yr: $27,342 (29)

Acceptance: 34.9%

Brown University

Providence, RI · Private

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA · Private

$71,474

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

2yr: $25,194 (13)

Acceptance: 29.3%

#10

George Washington University

Washington, DC · Private

$70,766

4yr Earnings

27 grads · small sample

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA · Private

Tufts University

Medford, MA · Private

$69,475

4yr Earnings

30 grads · small sample

CUNY York College

Jamaica, NY · Public

$69,380

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

University of Scranton

Scranton, PA · Private

$69,349

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

2yr: $39,369 (14)

Acceptance: 84.4%

#15

Williams College

Williamstown, MA · Private

Elon University

Elon, NC · Private

$68,927

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

2yr: $35,330 (15)

Acceptance: 67.3%

#17

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private

Trinity College

Hartford, CT · Private

Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private

$67,877

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

Villanova University

Villanova, PA · Private

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

Emory University

Atlanta, GA · Private

$66,762

4yr Earnings

28 grads · small sample

New York University

New York, NY · Private

Seton Hall University

South Orange, NJ · Private

Amherst College

Amherst, MA · Private

$65,195

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, TX · Private

$64,885

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

Binghamton University

Vestal, NY · Public

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

Loyola University Maryland

Baltimore, MD · Private

$63,919

4yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

Fordham University

Bronx, NY · Private

Providence College

Providence, RI · Private

$63,736

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

Fairfield University

Fairfield, CT · Private

Yale University

New Haven, CT · Private

$62,440

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

Spelman College

Atlanta, GA · Private

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA · Private

$62,291

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private

Bates College

Lewiston, ME · Private

$62,082

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

2yr: $30,771 (17)

Acceptance: 13.0%

#40

Assumption University

Worcester, MA · Private

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA · Private

St Lawrence University

Canton, NY · Private

Barnard College

New York, NY · Private

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ · Private

$61,323

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN · Private

Gettysburg College

Gettysburg, PA · Private

Colgate University

Hamilton, NY · Private

$60,702

4yr Earnings

19 grads · small sample

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · Private

New Jersey City University

Jersey City, NJ · Public

Manhattan University

Riverdale, NY · Private

$60,508

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

2yr: $25,194 (15)

1yr: $34,100 (19)

Acceptance: 78.5%

Showing top 50 of 693 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General $29,202 Psychology, General $29,179 Physical Sciences, Other $29,116 Sociology and Anthropology $29,022 Natural Sciences $29,014 Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies $28,862

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for English Language and Literature, General?

Stanford University ranks #1 for English Language and Literature, General with median graduate earnings of $82,036 within four years of graduating. There are 693 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do English Language and Literature, General graduates earn?

English Language and Literature, General graduates earn an average of $49,451 within four years of graduating. This is 21% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $29,768 to $82,036 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top English Language and Literature, General program?

The average acceptance rate across English Language and Literature, General programs is 70.8%. The most selective program is at Harvard University with a 3.5% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for English Language and Literature, General?

Private English Language and Literature, General programs average $54,364 in early earnings vs $47,233 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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