Best colleges for English Language and Literature in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Chapman University, University of San Francisco and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo are the top bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in California by graduate earnings. Chapman University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,861, College Scorecard. University of California-Los Angeles, California State University - Long Beach and University of California-Berkeley award the most English Language and Literature degrees in California: 279, 261 and 242 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 176 California colleges offer English Language and Literature and award 5,532 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…
Top 10 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,861 | 30 | 82% | $42,965 | $22,750 |
| 2 | University of San Francisco San Francisco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,468 | 27 | 70% | $37,121 | $26,000 |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,718 | 58 | 86% | — | $23,956 |
| 4 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,531 | 137 | 56% | — | $15,000 |
| 5 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,339 | 106 | 50% | — | $17,243 |
| 6 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,282 | 47 | 58% | — | $18,239 |
| 7 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,544 | 51 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 8 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,638 | 65 | 55% | — | $15,500 |
| 9 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,889 | 279 | 93% | — | $14,376 |
| 10 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,462 | 242 | 93% | — | $13,500 |
Colleges awarding the most English Language and Literature degrees in California
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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 279 | $27,889 |
| 2 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 261 | $22,933 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 242 | $27,462 |
| 4 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public | 197 | $27,452 |
| 5 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 150 | $25,477 |
| 6 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 147 | $24,157 |
| 7 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 142 | $26,021 |
| 8 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public | 137 | $32,531 |
| 9 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public | 135 | $23,783 |
| 10 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 129 | $24,099 |
ShowHide the other 166 California colleges offering English Language and Literature
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Proofreaders and Copy Markers (SOC 43-9081).
Top skills
What Proofreaders and Copy Markers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing English Language and Literature programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most English Language and Literature degrees?+
University of California-Los Angeles (279 graduates a year), California State University - Long Beach (261 graduates a year) and University of California-Berkeley (242 graduates a year) award the most English Language and Literature degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 176 California colleges offer English Language and Literature.
What is the best college for English Language and Literature in California?+
By graduate earnings, Chapman University leads among bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,861, College Scorecard. University of San Francisco and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Los Angeles is the largest, with 279 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which English Language and Literature program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Chapman University tops the list at $40,861. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Proofreaders and Copy Markers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Proofreaders and Copy Markers in California is $59,630 (median $57,490), across about 300 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
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.
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