Federal data
Highest earning English language and literature programs in the United States
U.S. English language and literature programs, ranked by median earnings one year after completion, from the College Scorecard field-of-study file (September 18, 2026). Only programs with at least 30 counted graduates in the earnings sample are shown, and at least 5 programs must qualify for this list to exist.
| Rank | School | City | Sector | Median earnings, 1 year after | Graduates counted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University | Washington | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $52,122 | 50 |
| 2 | Monmouth University | West Long Branch | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $50,737 | 53 |
| 3 | Brown University | Providence | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $50,437 | 47 |
| 4 | Williams College | Williamstown | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $49,340 | 44 |
| 5 | Georgian Court University | Lakewood | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $44,982 | 37 |
| 6 | College of the Holy Cross | Worcester | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $43,362 | 71 |
| 7 | Boston College | Chestnut Hill | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $41,878 | 91 |
| 8 | University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls | Public, 4-year | $41,870 | 77 |
| 9 | Gonzaga University | Spokane | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $41,077 | 30 |
| 10 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $40,967 | 32 |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | Green Bay | Public, 4-year | $40,812 | 38 |
| 12 | The University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington | Public, 4-year | $40,718 | 75 |
| 13 | William & Mary | Williamsburg | Public, 4-year | $40,697 | 47 |
| 14 | Gettysburg College | Gettysburg | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $40,601 | 43 |
| 15 | Barnard College | New York | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $40,414 | 37 |
| 16 | University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $40,345 | 30 |
| 17 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | Charlottesville | Public, 4-year | $40,092 | 83 |
| 18 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | Eau Claire | Public, 4-year | $39,591 | 60 |
| 19 | Illinois State University | Normal | Public, 4-year | $39,563 | 107 |
| 20 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale | Public, 4-year | $39,334 | 127 |
| 21 | Towson University | Towson | Public, 4-year | $39,250 | 88 |
| 22 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksburg | Public, 4-year | $39,155 | 46 |
| 23 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | San Antonio | Public, 4-year | $39,152 | 41 |
| 24 | University of Utah | Salt Lake City | Public, 4-year | $38,644 | 73 |
| 25 | Iowa State University | Ames | Public, 4-year | $38,375 | 91 |
Earnings cover federally aided graduates only, as published by College Scorecard.
How to read this. A smaller program can show a high or low figure from just a few graduates, and this earnings figure only ever covers students who received federal aid, so it does not describe every graduate.
Keep going