Best English Colleges in the United States (2026)
Updated
This page ranks 687 schools offering English in the United States by median earnings of English graduates four years after completing. Stanford University leads the list with median earnings of $82,036 after completing.
Across the 648 schools with a reported completion median, earnings range from $82,036 to $15,922, with a median of $46,580. For 118 of the listed schools the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 55% of the list, with 375 schools against 312 private nonprofits. CUNY Hunter College posts the lowest average net price at $2,984, while Princeton University reports the highest six-year completion rate at 98%.
On Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally, University of California-San Diego ranks 1st.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median English Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University · Stanford, CA | $82,036 | $13,807 | -$2,536* | 3.6% |
| Stanford University reports $82,036 in median earnings for its English graduates four years after completing, and admits 4% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($82,036) | |||||
| 2 | Georgetown University · Washington, DC | $78,370 | $40,815 | $5,064 | 12.9% |
| With an admission rate of 13%, Georgetown University posts median earnings of $78,370 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (77 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($78,370) | |||||
| 3 | University of Chicago · Chicago, IL | $78,169 | $14,860 | -$1,264* | 4.5% |
| University of Chicago graduates 96% of its students within six years, and its English graduates earn a median of $78,169 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (54 graduates), Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (37 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($78,169) | |||||
| 4 | Wake Forest University · Winston-Salem, NC | $77,847 | $28,719 | $6,525 | 21.7% |
| Wake Forest University carries an average net price of $28,719, while its English graduates earn a median of $77,847 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (39 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($77,847) | |||||
| 5 | College of the Holy Cross · Worcester, MA | $74,214 | $38,782 | $14,343 | 17.6% |
| College of the Holy Cross ranks 5th on this list, with median earnings of $74,214 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (57 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($74,214) | |||||
| 6 | Howard University · Washington, DC | $73,929 | $50,539 | $46,051 | 41.3% |
| Howard University shows a six-year completion rate of 70% and median earnings of $73,929 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (14 graduates) | |||||
| 7 | Lehigh University · Bethlehem, PA | $71,474 | $36,931 | $16,917 | 25.9% |
| Lehigh University reports an average net price of $36,931 and an admission rate of 26%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (15 graduates) | |||||
| 8 | Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA | $71,205 | $31,944 | $9,097 | 11.7% |
| Carnegie Mellon University admits 12% of applicants and its English graduates earn a median of $71,205 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (21 graduates) | |||||
| 9 | George Washington University · Washington, DC | $70,766 | $36,586 | $17,440 | 47.1% |
| George Washington University ranks 9th on this list, with an admission rate of 47% and median earnings of $70,766 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (30 graduates), Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (11 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($70,766) | |||||
| 10 | University of Richmond · University Of Richmond, VA | $70,444 | $31,309 | $12,808 | 22.2% |
| University of Richmond graduates 85% of its students within six years, and its English graduates earn a median of $70,444 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (23 graduates), English Language and Literature, General (20 graduates) | |||||
| 11 | Boston College · Chestnut Hill, MA | $70,141 | $41,704 | $4,284 | 16.4% |
| Boston College posts an average net price of $41,704, while its English graduates earn a median of $70,141 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (91 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($70,141) | |||||
| 12 | Tufts University · Medford, MA | $69,475 | $39,998 | $11,284 | 11.5% |
| Tufts University admits 11% of applicants and reports median earnings of $69,475 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (31 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($69,475) | |||||
| 13 | CUNY York College · Jamaica, NY | $69,380 | $4,456 | $2,861 | 64.1% |
| CUNY York College reports $69,380 in median earnings for its English graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $4,456. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (13 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($69,380) | |||||
| 14 | University of Scranton · Scranton, PA | $69,349 | $32,568 | $23,896 | 81.2% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 80%, University of Scranton ranks 14th on this list and shows median earnings of $69,349 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (9 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($69,349) | |||||
| 15 | Williams College · Williamstown, MA | $69,065 | $17,716 | -$2,610* | 8.3% |
| Williams College admits 8% of applicants and its English graduates earn a median of $69,065 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (45 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($69,065) | |||||
| 16 | Elon University · Elon, NC | $68,927 | $41,555 | $26,523 | 66.4% |
| Elon University ranks 16th on this list, with median earnings of $68,927 for its English graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $41,555. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($68,927) | |||||
| 17 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | $68,752 | $30,365 | $15,586 | 52.4% |
| Graduates of the English program at University of San Diego earn a median of $68,752 four years after completing, and the school reports a six-year completion rate of 84%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (25 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($68,752) | |||||
| 18 | Trinity College · Hartford, CT | $68,063 | $34,832 | $11,054 | 29.3% |
| Trinity College ranks 503rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its English graduates earn a median of $68,063 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (26 graduates) | |||||
| 19 | Northeastern University · Boston, MA | $67,877 | $30,915 | $2,264 | 5.2% |
| With an admission rate of 5%, Northeastern University reports median earnings of $67,877 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($67,877) | |||||
| 20 | Villanova University · Villanova, PA | $67,157 | $43,756 | $17,823 | 27.0% |
| Villanova University ranks 20th on this list, its English graduates earn a median of $67,157 four years after completing, and the six-year completion rate is 92%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (20 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($67,157) | |||||
| 21 | Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA | $66,806 | $48,381 | $32,268 | 45.1% |
| Loyola Marymount University shows an average net price of $48,381 and median earnings of $66,806 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (65 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($66,806) | |||||
| 22 | Seattle University · Seattle, WA | $66,766 | $34,662 | $22,896 | 76.9% |
| Seattle University admits 77% of applicants, and its English graduates earn a median of $66,766 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (15 graduates), English Language and Literature, General (8 graduates) | |||||
| 23 | New York University · New York, NY | $66,306 | $37,050 | $16,977 | 9.2% |
| New York University ranks 146th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with median earnings of $66,306 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Literature (85 graduates), English Language and Literature, General (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($66,306) | |||||
| 24 | Seton Hall University · South Orange, NJ | $65,714 | $31,446 | $19,623 | 73.3% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 69%, Seton Hall University reports median earnings of $65,714 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (21 graduates), Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (8 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($65,714) | |||||
| 25 | Amherst College · Amherst, MA | $65,195 | $23,367 | $1,086 | 9.0% |
| Amherst College reports $65,195 in median earnings for its English graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate reaches 94%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (41 graduates) | |||||
* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their English graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled after completing. For 118 of the 687 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 648 schools with a reported completion median. The gap between first-ranked Stanford University and second-ranked Georgetown University is $3,666, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $66,114.
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