Best Schools for English Language and Literature/Letters in 2026

16 schools ranked by DegreeWorth Score · Updated 2026

These are the top schools offering English Language and Literature/Letters, ranked by DegreeWorth Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average English Language and Literature/Letters graduate earns $29,011/yr across 16 schools.

Programs Ranked
16
Avg Earnings
$29,011/yr
Avg DW Score
35/100
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure

All English Language and Literature/Letters Programs Ranked

Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.

# Program DW Score Earnings AI Risk ROI
1 English Language and Literature/Letters
Empire State University · Saratoga Springs, NY
60
55–61
$48,651/yr Very High 17.9x
2 English Language and Literature/Letters
Rowan University · Glassboro, NJ
44
39–46
$40,921/yr Very High 7.2x
3 English Language and Literature/Letters
California State University-Dominguez Hills · Carson, CA
40
34–44
$26,681/yr Very High 13.3x
4 English Language and Literature/Letters
Suffolk University · Boston, MA
37
32–39
$41,252/yr Very High 1.7x
5 English Language and Literature/Letters
Ohio University-Eastern Campus · Saint Clairsville, OH
37
34–38
$24,239/yr Very High 8.8x
6 English Language and Literature/Letters
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus · Chillicothe, OH
37
34–38
$24,239/yr Very High 8.8x
7 English Language and Literature/Letters
Ohio University-Southern Campus · Ironton, OH
37
34–38
$24,239/yr Very High 8.8x
8 English Language and Literature/Letters
Ohio University-Lancaster Campus · Lancaster, OH
37
34–38
$24,239/yr Very High 8.8x
9 English Language and Literature/Letters
Ohio University-Zanesville Campus · Zanesville, OH
37
34–38
$24,239/yr Very High 8.8x
10 English Language and Literature/Letters
University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA
30
23–37
$21,788/yr Very High 7.2x
11 English Language and Literature/Letters
Middlebury College · Middlebury, VT
31
25–35
$34,871/yr Very High 1.6x
12 English Language and Literature/Letters
University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA
30
25–32
$21,591/yr Very High 3.9x
13 English Language and Literature/Letters
Emmanuel College · Boston, MA
29
24–31
$32,451/yr Very High 0.7x
14 English Language and Literature/Letters
Bard College · Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
22
16–24
$17,237/yr Very High -0.3x
15 English Language and Literature/Letters
Ohio University-Main Campus · Athens, OH
30
25–32
$24,239/yr Very High 3.4x
16 English Language and Literature/Letters
Drexel University · Philadelphia, PA
29
24–31
$33,300/yr Very High 0.4x

Methodology

Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score, which combines four equally weighted factors: graduate earnings (Year 1 after graduation), AI automation resilience (based on OpenAI and academic research), job market size (BLS annual openings), and earnings-to-tuition multiple (10-year projected earnings vs. 4-year tuition).

Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports actual median earnings of graduates — not self-reported surveys.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for English Language and Literature/Letters?
Based on our DegreeWorth Score, Empire State University ranks #1 for English Language and Literature/Letters with a score of 60/100 and graduate earnings of $48,651/yr.
How much do English Language and Literature/Letters graduates earn?
Across 16 schools, English Language and Literature/Letters graduates earn an average of $29,011/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $48,651/yr.
Is English Language and Literature/Letters a good major for AI resistance?
English Language and Literature/Letters has an average AI task exposure of 59%, rated "Very High". This field has significant AI exposure. Check individual program pages for scenario analysis.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Last updated 2025.