Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for English Degrees

Q: Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Badge for BEST FOR ENGLISH LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES

By Dr. James Barham and Jenn Finley
Reviewed By Jenn Finley

Published: Nov 8, 2021
Updated: Jan 15, 2024

The best English / literature liberal arts colleges are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best English degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding English faculty.

Top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges English Programs

Wesleyan University
Amherst College
Williams College
Swarthmore College
Barnard College
Middlebury College
Pomona College
Wellesley College
Smith College
Vassar College

Wesleyan University
Amherst College
United States Military Academy
Oberlin College
Williams College
Swarthmore College
Smith College
Wellesley College
Bryn Mawr College
Vassar College

San Francisco State University 94%
Mount Holyoke College 40%
Oberlin College 35%
Kenyon College 34%
Reed College 31%
Bryn Mawr College 31%
Smith College 23%
Vassar College 19%
Washington and Lee University 17%
Davidson College 17%

San Francisco State University 19 to 1
Barnard College 10 to 1
Hamilton College 9 to 1
Bowdoin College 9 to 1
Reed College 9 to 1
Mount Holyoke College 9 to 1
Kenyon College 9 to 1
Colgate University 9 to 1
Davidson College 9 to 1
Oberlin College 9 to 1

Kenyon College $66,490
Vassar College $64,800
Reed College $64,760
Wesleyan University $64,322
Colgate University $64,290
Amherst College $64,100
Haverford College $63,628
Hamilton College $62,670
Barnard College $62,525
Middlebury College $62,460

Claremont McKenna College $65,574
Colgate University $63,904
Vassar College $63,840
Wesleyan University $63,722
Williams College $61,775
Smith College $58,480
Bryn Mawr College $50,730
Oberlin College $29,692
Mount Holyoke College $27,268
Middlebury College $14,550

Bryn Mawr College
Hamilton College
Mount Holyoke College
Davidson College
United States Naval Academy
Washington and Lee University
United States Military Academy
Reed College
Claremont McKenna College
Haverford College

Claremont McKenna College
Davidson College
Kenyon College
Hamilton College
Middlebury College
Washington and Lee University
Colgate University
Pomona College
Haverford College
Reed College

Pomona College 7%
Swarthmore College 7%
Amherst College 7%
Williams College 8%
Bowdoin College 9%
Barnard College 9%
Claremont McKenna College 10%
United States Naval Academy 11%
Hamilton College 12%
United States Military Academy 12%

Williams College 6 to 1
Amherst College 7 to 1
Pomona College 7 to 1
Washington and Lee University 7 to 1
Wesleyan University 7 to 1
Vassar College 7 to 1
Wellesley College 7 to 1
United States Military Academy 7 to 1
Swarthmore College 8 to 1
Bryn Mawr College 8 to 1

San Francisco State University $5,742
Davidson College $57,340
Mount Holyoke College $58,498
Smith College $58,768
Pomona College $59,238
Swarthmore College $59,328
Bryn Mawr College $59,330
Claremont McKenna College $60,715
Bowdoin College $61,528
Washington and Lee University $61,750

San Francisco State University $7,176
Middlebury College $14,550
Mount Holyoke College $27,268
Oberlin College $29,692
Bryn Mawr College $50,730
Smith College $58,480
Williams College $61,775
Wesleyan University $63,722
Vassar College $63,840
Colgate University $63,904

Key Takeaways

The best liberal arts colleges for English majors are recognized for their track record of academic excellence, faculty credentials and influence, and student support services. Their bachelor’s degree programs in the English language and English literature are the training grounds for future teachers, public relations specialists, and authors, among other occupations.
Students interested in becoming an English major must possess above-average communication skills, both oral and writing skills. Liberal arts colleges are known for their selective admissions standards and qualified students have been carefully screened.
English as a liberal arts degree also demands soft skills like critical thinking and communication skills.

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

A bachelor’s degree in English (also referred to as an literature major in many schools) is an excellent starting point for a career in journalism, education, publishing, and a host of other exciting and creative fields. As an English major, you’ll refine your compositional skills, engage in critical reading, and explore the connection between literature and a vast array of other disciplines, including philosophy, history, and business. The best schools for English / literature are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of literature and English concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.

Degree popularity: English bachelor’s degrees are the 23rd most popular undergraduate degrees across all student demographics, ranking much higher for women at 15th versus 39th for men. It’s most popular among White women for whom it ranks 14th, followed by Hispanic women for whom it ranks 24th, according to the number of degree earners reported by the National Center for Educational Statistics

Exploring English Degrees in Liberal Arts Schools

The best liberal arts colleges for English degrees introduce students to the wide range of literature and other works in the English language. But while there’s the possibility of personal fulfillment and professional success with an English degree, students interested in becoming English majors must also be aware of the challenges.

Admission Requirements

The challenge starts with admission into the best bachelor’s degree program of your choice! The best English degree programs have selective admissions criteria and requirements, thus, prospective students must be well-prepared with their academic credentials and documents.

While the admissions criteria (i.e., weight given to each criterion) differs among English degree programs, the common minimum requirements include:

A high school or an associate degree with minimum GPA
Minimum grades on prerequisite subjects, such as English composition
Official transcripts from schools attended
Standardized test scores (SAT/ACT)
Letters of recommendation
Personal statements (In essay form)
Current curriculum vitae

Many liberal arts colleges offering English degree programs also conduct interviews with qualified students to further determine their suitability (i.e., oral communication skills). Academic writing samples may also be required as proof of writing skills.

Average Time-to-completion

Bachelor’s degree programs in English typically require students to complete the academic requirements for 60 credit hours or its equivalent. This means an average time-to-completion between four and five years but the actual time-to-completion for each student can vary based on these factors:

Number of transfer credits from college-level courses, such as from an associate degree or Advanced Placement courses
Part-time or full-time matriculation
Internship or practicum hours required, if any

The choice between on-campus and online programs will also affect your level of academic success in an English degree program. Many of the best liberals arts colleges offer students the choice between these formats.

Academic Evaluations and Challenges

Since online and on-campus English degree programs feature the same curriculum, all students must meet the standards for academic excellence. Students must read a broad range of works in English literature, which demands above-average critical reading skills, and submit papers, among other requirements.

The methods for academic evaluations determine the students’ progress in the English degree programs, too. Liberal arts colleges use these evaluation methods:

Class participation in lectures, discussions and recitations
Assignment submissions including various types of papers
Journals and portfolios
Quizzes and exams

Academic misdemeanors, such as plagiarism and cheating, can be met with punishments, such as suspension or expulsion.

Internship and/or practicum opportunities may be available in the best liberal arts colleges, too. The hands-on experiences are gained in diverse workplaces, too, from colleges and universities to public relations firms.

Technical and Transferable Skills Development

The beauty of an English degree lies in the set of valuable skills that students develop during the program. Technical skills, such as professional writing skills, creative writing skills, and technical writing skills in the English language, are emphasized. But students also develop transferable skills including:

Critical thinking skills
Communication skills
Storytelling and presentation skills
Creativity

No wonder graduates of English degree programs in liberal arts colleges find gainful employment in diverse occupations and enjoy personal fulfillment, too! The bachelor’s degree is also a stepping stone toward a master’s degree and, if you so desire, a doctorate degree in English.

A liberal arts degree in English from a top-ranked program can open career opportunities in technical writing. Find out what else you can do with a liberal arts degree.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Per-credit costs for an English degree ranges between $180 and $600+ with the actual pre-credit costs depending on the type of institution (whether public or private). Financial aid is available in the form of federal and state financial aid, scholarships, and grants.

Like all other bachelor’s degrees, an English degree from a liberal arts college is what you make of it—leveraging it to your advantage is key to your success.

Frequently Asked Questions About English Bachelor’s Degrees

Mastering the English language has value well beyond the field of literature. Gaining greater depth, versatility and confidence with the English language will make you a better writer, a more confident speaker, and a more perceptive listener. These skills will pay dividends in fields such as public relations, marketing, teaching, and human resources, just to name a few.

In fact, the most influential literary scholars go on to achieve acclaim as bestselling authors, prominent professors, noted historians, and more. Today, top influencers in English are breaking new ground in historical fiction, graphic novels, poetry, and much more.

Literature is an excellent major because it can provide a pathway into countless fields and career opportunities. If you’re looking for a well-paying and secure job, a literature degree is a great place to start. As an English major, you’ll be doing more than just reading literature. The primary objective of an English major is to achieve greater appreciation and understanding of the written word. This means you’ll learn how to deconstruct literature in search of meaning, character and culture; and to explore the innovative ways that language can be used as a form of expression. In short, you won’t be a passive participant in your reading. As an English major, you will learn to read actively, with thought, insight, and analysis. This means that literature majors bring strong communication, critical thinking, and creativity to a wide range of employment settings.

Your concentration will determine many of the courses you’ll take as an English major. Likewise, you will be required to take a number of requisite courses on foundational topics such as Literary Critical Analysis and Comparative Literature. However, as an English major, you will also have the chance to develop your curriculum around the themes, cultural traditions, and literary periods that most interest you. Examples of traditional literature courses include:

Translating World Literature
Narrative Negotiations
Dreams and Literature
Children’s Literature
Creative Writing
Rhetoric and Composition
The Ancient Greek Hero
Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking

The English degree is actually quite versatile. Earning a degree in literature can qualify you for a number of stimulating jobs in both practical and creative fields. In some cases, you’ll get a chance to use your compositional and communication skills, whereas in other instances, you’ll use what you have learned to help others navigate the English language. The following are among the most popular jobs for literature majors:

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students.

Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).

Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers.

Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available.

Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online.

Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands.

Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.

Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving.

If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.

The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors.

Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

If you think a research university may be a better fit for you, see our ranking of the best research universities for a bachelor’s in English.

How do we determine the best English liberal arts colleges?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why we rank the best colleges and universities based on what we call “Influence”.

The influence of a college or university is based on the schools’s top academic influencers related to the discipline in this ranking. We track the influence of faculty and alumni affiliate with these school counting not only the publications and citations of the school’s affiliated people, but we also consider the overall web presence of the faculty and alumni. The greater the citations, authority of web links, web searches, and page views, the greater the individuals’s influence. Those combined make up the departments’s influence in the field of study. We believe tracking the academic influence of the people affiliated with a school is the best indicator of academic excellence.

If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and misused performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is more insulated from manipulation, and more reflective of real-world educational outcomes.