Best English Language and Literature, General Schools in California

California has 50 colleges offering English Language and Literature, General programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 2,929 recent graduates. Graduates earn $28,346 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $28,969.

50
Schools in CA
$28,346
CA Avg. Earnings
$28,969
National Avg.
729
Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: English Language and Literature, General in California

Public Schools (29)
$27,535
avg. 2yr earnings
Private Schools (19)
$29,449
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $1,914 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

English Language and Literature, General Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

#1
Stanford University logo

Stanford University

Stanford, CA · Private

$23,649
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $44,251
Graduates: 20
Acceptance: 3.9%
#2
University of San Diego logo

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private

$23,649
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $35,227
Graduates: 28
Acceptance: 46.8%
#3
Loyola Marymount University logo

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,842
Graduates: 57
Acceptance: 40.3%
#4
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo logo

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,386
Graduates: 40
Acceptance: 29.8%
#5
University of California-Berkeley logo

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$34,393
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,616
Graduates: 252
Acceptance: 11.7%
#6
Sonoma State University logo

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $21,389
Graduates: 37
Acceptance: 94.7%
#7
University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

N/A
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 10.0%
#8
University of California-Santa Barbara logo

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,434
Graduates: 132
Acceptance: 27.8%
#9
National University logo

National University

San Diego, CA · Private

$27,048
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#10
University of California-Davis logo

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$29,540
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $25,495
Graduates: 176
Acceptance: 41.6%
#11
University of California-Merced logo

University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Public

N/A
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 39.2%
#12
Westmont College logo

Westmont College

Santa Barbara, CA · Private

$32,925
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,823
Graduates: 24
Acceptance: 79.9%
#13
Chapman University logo

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 55.6%
#14
Saint Mary's College of California logo

Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, CA · Private

$45,696
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $35,746
Graduates: 18
Acceptance: 88.6%
#15
California Baptist University logo

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA · Private

$27,669
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $24,354
Graduates: 23
Acceptance: 73.6%
#16
San Francisco State University logo

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$33,382
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,355
Graduates: 62
Acceptance: 96.2%
#17
University of California-San Diego logo

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$26,353
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,778
Graduates: 20
Acceptance: 24.5%
#18
Whittier College logo

Whittier College

Whittier, CA · Private

$15,552
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $22,750
Graduates: 28
Acceptance: 85.4%
#19
University of California-Los Angeles logo

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$29,503
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $27,063
Graduates: 250
Acceptance: 8.7%
#20
California State University-Dominguez Hills logo

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA · Public

N/A
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 91.3%
#21
California State University-San Marcos logo

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public

$29,995
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $25,641
Graduates: 51
Acceptance: 95.7%
#22
California State University-Stanislaus logo

California State University-Stanislaus

Turlock, CA · Public

$31,839
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $23,711
Graduates: 37
Acceptance: 97.5%
#23
University of California-Irvine logo

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$23,456
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $23,520
Graduates: 116
Acceptance: 25.6%
#24
California State University-Channel Islands logo

California State University-Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA · Public

$24,615
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $24,199
Graduates: 51
Acceptance: 93.1%
#25
California State University-East Bay logo

California State University-East Bay

Hayward, CA · Public

$26,353
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,716
Graduates: 44
Acceptance: 96.8%
#26
California Lutheran University logo

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, CA · Private

$21,781
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 88.9%
#27
California State University-Bakersfield logo

California State University-Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA · Public

$28,598
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 88.2%
#28
California State University-Los Angeles logo

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$28,960
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $26,864
Graduates: 63
Acceptance: 91.9%
#29
California State University-Fullerton logo

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$25,774
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $23,697
Graduates: 102
Acceptance: 86.7%
#30
University of Redlands logo

University of Redlands

Redlands, CA · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 80.9%
#31
University of California-Riverside logo

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

$24,962
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $21,386
Graduates: 107
Acceptance: 63.3%
#32
California State University-Sacramento logo

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$27,155
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,047
Graduates: 129
Acceptance: 93.6%
#33
California State University-Long Beach logo

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$29,956
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $23,239
Graduates: 156
Acceptance: 47.1%
#34
University of San Francisco logo

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA · Private

$39,741
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,349
Graduates: 28
Acceptance: 50.8%
#35
San Diego State University logo

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $24,209
Graduates: 94
Acceptance: 34.4%
#36
California State University-Chico logo

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$18,771
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $23,682
Graduates: 48
Acceptance: 93.7%
#37
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona logo

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$21,508
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $21,075
Graduates: 60
Acceptance: 73.7%
#38
California State University-Northridge logo

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$28,598
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,064
Graduates: 137
Acceptance: 93.2%
#39
Santa Clara University logo

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private

$47,260
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $43,732
Graduates: 19
Acceptance: 43.8%
#40
California State University-Fresno logo

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$18,315
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $21,508
Graduates: 52
Acceptance: 96.4%
#41
A

Ashford University

San Diego, CA ·

$27,753
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $27,029
Graduates: 59
Acceptance: N/A
#42
California State University-San Bernardino logo

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

$22,420
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $18,701
Graduates: 33
Acceptance: 98.3%
#43
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt logo

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$21,403
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $20,121
Graduates: 59
Acceptance: 98.8%
#44
Biola University logo

Biola University

La Mirada, CA · Private

$31,670
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $18,018
Graduates: 34
Acceptance: 60.1%
#45
San Jose State University logo

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA · Public

$32,391
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,546
Graduates: 29
Acceptance: 80.2%
#46
U

University of Phoenix-California

Ontario, CA ·

$30,962
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,030
Graduates: 197
Acceptance: N/A
#47
Mount Saint Mary's University logo

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$27,439
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 68.7%
#48
University of La Verne logo

University of La Verne

La Verne, CA · Private

$26,353
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 48.5%
#49
Northeastern University Oakland logo

Northeastern University Oakland

Oakland, CA · Private

$24,808
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $26,216
Graduates: 20
Acceptance: 16.5%
#50
Azusa Pacific University logo

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, CA · Private

$20,413
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $24,392
Graduates: 37
Acceptance: 79.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for English Language and Literature, General in California?
Stanford University ranks #1 for English Language and Literature, General in California with median graduate earnings of $23,649 within two years of graduation. There are 50 schools offering English Language and Literature, General programs in the state.
How much do English Language and Literature, General graduates earn in California?
English Language and Literature, General graduates in California earn an average of $28,346 within two years of graduation. This is 2% below the national average of $28,969 for this major.
What is the hardest English Language and Literature, General school to get into in California?
Stanford University is the most selective English Language and Literature, General program in California with an acceptance rate of 3.9%. The average acceptance rate across English Language and Literature, General programs in the state is 64.6%.
Should I attend a public or private school for English Language and Literature, General in California?
In California, private English Language and Literature, General programs produce average earnings of $29,449 vs $27,535 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 29 public and 19 private options in the state.

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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.