Alabama · English Language and Literature

Best colleges for English Language and Literature in Alabama

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of South Alabama, Jacksonville State University and Auburn University are the top bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in Alabama by graduate earnings. University of South Alabama leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,486, College Scorecard. The University of Alabama, Auburn University and University of Alabama at Birmingham award the most English Language and Literature degrees in Alabama: 80, 55 and 47 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 22 Alabama colleges offer English Language and Literature and award 406 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The English Language and Literature program, also known as English studies, focuses on the study, analysis, and exploration of English literature through various texts. This program is designed for students interested in deepening their…

Institutions
22
offering CIP 23.01
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
406
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$32,324
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
8
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,604
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
49%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Proofreaders and Copy Markers
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BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of South Alabama
Mobile Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,4862553%—$23,505
2Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,7742455%—$23,267
3Auburn University
Auburn Public · Bachelor's degree
$33,2135582%—$25,000
4University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,3244764%—$24,946
5University of North Alabama
Florence Public · Bachelor's degree
$26,2132855%—$25,000
6Troy University
Troy Public · Bachelor's degree
$25,8883750%—$25,924
7The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa Public · Bachelor's degree
$25,0458073%—$22,250
8Athens State University
Athens Public · Bachelor's degree Degree completion Small program
$40,91716——$26,833

Colleges awarding the most English Language and Literature degrees in Alabama

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa Public
80$25,045
2Auburn University
Auburn Public
55$33,213
3University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham Public
47$32,324
4Troy University
Troy Public
37$25,888
5University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville Public
33Not reported
6University of North Alabama
Florence Public
28$26,213
7University of South Alabama
Mobile Public
25$40,486
8Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville Public
24$37,774
9Auburn University at Montgomery
Montgomery Public
10Not reported
10University of Montevallo
Montevallo Public
10Not reported
Show the other 12 Alabama colleges offering English Language and Literature
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Athens State University (Degree completion)AthensPublic16
Samford UniversityBirminghamPrivate not-for-profit10
Spring Hill CollegeMobilePrivate not-for-profit8
Alabama A & M UniversityNormalPublic7
Faulkner UniversityMontgomeryPrivate not-for-profit3
University of West AlabamaLivingstonPublic3
Tuskegee UniversityTuskegeePrivate not-for-profit3
Huntingdon CollegeMontgomeryPrivate not-for-profit2
Miles CollegeFairfieldPrivate not-for-profit2
Alabama State UniversityMontgomeryPublic1
University of MobileMobilePrivate not-for-profit1
Stillman CollegeTuscaloosaPrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Proofreaders and Copy Markers (SOC 43-9081).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-0.6%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~1,900
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$49,210
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionWritingSpeakingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingMonitoring

What Proofreaders and Copy Markers earn in Alabama

Jobs in Alabama
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BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
—
annual
Best-paying metro
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Related careers

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
$65,490 avg · 1,040 jobs
Proofreaders and Copy Markers
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Common questions

Answers for students comparing English Language and Literature programs in Alabama.

Which Alabama colleges award the most English Language and Literature degrees?+

The University of Alabama (80 graduates a year), Auburn University (55 graduates a year) and University of Alabama at Birmingham (47 graduates a year) award the most English Language and Literature degrees in Alabama, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 22 Alabama colleges offer English Language and Literature.

What is the best college for English Language and Literature in Alabama?+

By graduate earnings, University of South Alabama leads among bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in Alabama, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,486, College Scorecard. Jacksonville State University and Auburn University follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Alabama is the largest, with 80 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which English Language and Literature program in Alabama has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of South Alabama tops the list at $40,486. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

What is the focus of the English Language and Literature program?+

The English Language and Literature program, also known as English studies, focuses on the study, analysis, and exploration of English literature through various texts. This program is designed for students interested in deepening their…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, writing, speaking, active listening, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Proofreaders and Copy Markers?+

The national job outlook is about -0.6% growth with around 1,900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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