Rankings / Masters
Best Master's in English
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The landscape of graduate education in English and Literature is rich and varied, with programs designed to prepare students for a range of careers in academia, writing, publishing, and beyond. As students consider their options, they often look for programs that not only foster a deep understanding of literature but also offer strong financial returns. In fact, the average earnings for graduates from the top schools in this field stands at $75,266, highlighting the potential for a rewarding career post-graduation.
What sets the leading programs apart here are their outcomes. This list weighs graduate earnings, mobility, completion rates, and the overall cost of attendance. By examining these factors, prospective students can assess which programs deliver the best return on investment, both in terms of financial stability and personal growth. For instance, schools like the University of Pennsylvania and Brown University not only boast high graduation rates of 97% and 96%, respectively, but also present different financial landscapes for their students.
Consider Williams College and the University of Pennsylvania. While Williams graduates earn an impressive $88,665, the cost of attendance is relatively low at $17,716. In contrast, the University of Pennsylvania, with an average earning of $111,371, comes with a higher net price of $28,699. This difference may influence a student's decision based on their financial constraints and career aspirations, making it essential to weigh these factors thoughtfully as they explore their options.
Key Findings
The average earnings for graduates in this ranking is $75,266.
University of Pennsylvania graduates earn an average of $111,371, the highest in this list.
Williams College has the lowest net price among the top five at $17,716.
Graduation rates for the top programs range from 95% to 97%, indicating strong student support.
Quick Numbers
How We Ranked
Master's programs ranked by graduate earnings, mobility, and program concentration in English & Literature
Read our full methodology →Earnings vs. Cost
Each dot is a ranked school. Up = higher earnings. Right = higher cost. Top-left is the best value.
Graduation Rates
Longer bars = higher graduation rate.
Top 3
Williams College
Williamstown, MA
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University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
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Brown University
Providence, RI
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Full Rankings
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · 2,076 students · Private nonprofit
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · 7,569 students · Private nonprofit
Brown University
Providence, RI · 7,226 students · Private nonprofit
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · 10,650 students · Private nonprofit
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · 1,911 students · Private nonprofit
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME · 1,873 students · Private nonprofit
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · 2,300 students · Private nonprofit
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · 8,973 students · Private nonprofit
Yale University
New Haven, CT · 6,758 students · Private nonprofit
Colby College
Waterville, ME · 2,407 students · Private nonprofit
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY · 3,180 students · Private nonprofit
Davidson College
Davidson, NC · 1,867 students · Private nonprofit
Haverford College
Haverford, PA · 1,430 students · Private nonprofit
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · 1,613 students · Private nonprofit
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY · 16,289 students · Public
Smith College
Northampton, MA · 2,544 students · Private nonprofit
Bates College
Lewiston, ME · 1,760 students · Private nonprofit
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY · 2,030 students · Private nonprofit
Barnard College
New York, NY · 3,264 students · Private nonprofit
CUNY Queens College
Queens, NY · 12,550 students · Public
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA · 7,055 students · Public
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT · 2,738 students · Private nonprofit
Kenyon College
Gambier, OH · 1,732 students · Private nonprofit
University of Virginia's College at Wise
Wise, VA · 1,101 students · Public
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT · 3,067 students · Private nonprofit
Carleton College
Northfield, MN · 2,086 students · Private nonprofit
Scripps College
Claremont, CA · 1,113 students · Private nonprofit
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA · 1,729 students · Private nonprofit
Lafayette College
Easton, PA · 2,757 students · Private nonprofit
CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NY · 10,696 students · Public
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO · 2,513 students · Public
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA · 1,359 students · Private nonprofit
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · 3,106 students · Private nonprofit
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA · 1,527 students · Public
The University of the South
Sewanee, TN · 1,607 students · Private nonprofit
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY · 2,694 students · Private nonprofit
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, MI · 1,149 students · Private nonprofit
Trinity University
San Antonio, TX · 2,505 students · Private nonprofit
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ · 7,105 students · Public
University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA · 2,980 students · Private nonprofit
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA · 1,799 students · Private nonprofit
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · 13,544 students · Public
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA · 2,169 students · Private nonprofit
Wabash College
Crawfordsville, IN · 866 students · Private nonprofit
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO · 2,014 students · Private nonprofit
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA · 3,566 students · Public
University of Dallas
Irving, TX · 1,403 students · Private nonprofit
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY · 2,444 students · Private nonprofit
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA · 1,531 students · Private nonprofit
DePauw University
Greencastle, IN · 1,905 students · Private nonprofit
Looking closely at the data, we see a distinct pattern in how different schools support their students. For instance, the University of Pennsylvania graduates earn $111,371, but they also face a higher net price of $28,699 compared to Williams College, where students earn $88,665 with a significantly lower net price of $17,716. This tradeoff highlights the importance of considering both potential earnings and the financial burden of attending these institutions.
As you sift through this extensive list of 50 schools, think about what factors matter most to you. Is proximity to home a priority? Does the program's focus align with your career goals? Evaluating personal priorities against the data presented here can help narrow down choices. For example, if minimizing debt is critical, a school like Williams College may be appealing even with slightly lower earnings compared to others.
This data reflects a broader narrative about the transition from education to stable employment. For families, the decision of which master's program to pursue can significantly impact financial well-being down the line. One educated choice can lead to a more secure future, influencing not just individual lives but the financial health of families for years to come.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Sources & Citations
David Krug
Co-Founder, CollegeRanker
David Krug is the co-founder of CollegeRanker and a data systems architect focused on making institutional research accessible to families. He builds the data pipelines and ranking algorithms that power CollegeRanker, drawing from federal datasets and Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights research to measure what traditional rankings ignore: whether a college actually changes a family's economic trajectory.
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