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
24/100
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.

# School DW Score Earnings ROI
1 Empire State University
Saratoga Springs, NY · Public
52
46–53
$48,651/yr 17.9x
2 Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ · Public
36
31–36
$40,921/yr 7.2x
3 California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA · Public
26
24–26
$26,681/yr 13.3x
4 Suffolk University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
25
20–26
$41,252/yr 1.7x
5 Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT · Private nonprofit
23
19–23
$34,871/yr 1.6x
6 Ohio University-Eastern Campus
Saint Clairsville, OH · Public
22
21–23
$24,239/yr 8.8x
7 Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
Chillicothe, OH · Public
22
21–23
$24,239/yr 8.8x
8 Ohio University-Southern Campus
Ironton, OH · Public
22
21–23
$24,239/yr 8.8x
9 Ohio University-Lancaster Campus
Lancaster, OH · Public
22
21–23
$24,239/yr 8.8x
10 Ohio University-Zanesville Campus
Zanesville, OH · Public
22
21–23
$24,239/yr 8.8x
11 Emmanuel College
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
21
18–21
$32,451/yr 0.7x
12 Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit
21
18–22
$33,300/yr 0.4x
13 University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Public
20
19–21
$21,788/yr 7.2x
14 University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public
18
17–19
$21,591/yr 3.9x
15 Bard College
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY · Private nonprofit
18
16–18
$17,237/yr -0.3x
16 Ohio University-Main Campus
Athens, OH · Public
18
17–19
$24,239/yr 3.4x

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 52/100 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.