Best colleges for English Language and Literature in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northeastern University, Williams College and College of the Holy Cross are the top bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. Northeastern University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,639, College Scorecard. University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Boston College and Harvard University award the most English Language and Literature degrees in Massachusetts: 97, 89 and 73 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 49 Massachusetts colleges offer English Language and Literature and award 1,150 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 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,639 | 42 | 91% | $18,925 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Williams College Williamstown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,340 | 41 | 94% | $10,747 | $13,125 |
| 3 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,362 | 46 | 87% | $24,533 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Amherst College Amherst Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,979 | 29 | 94% | $16,081 | — |
| 5 | Boston College Chestnut Hill Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,878 | 89 | 91% | $21,126 | $18,832 |
| 6 | Brandeis University Waltham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,867 | 34 | 86% | $25,074 | $26,000 |
| 7 | Framingham State University Framingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,188 | 25 | 48% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,820 | 64 | 49% | — | $26,960 |
| 9 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,689 | 45 | 94% | $23,570 | $14,670 |
| 10 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,569 | 60 | 53% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most English Language and Literature degrees in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public | 97 | $24,521 |
| 2 | Boston College Chestnut Hill Private not-for-profit | 89 | $41,878 |
| 3 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 73 | $30,838 |
| 4 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell Public | 66 | $30,408 |
| 5 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit | 64 | $23,579 |
| 6 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston Public | 64 | $35,820 |
| 7 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater Public | 60 | $34,569 |
| 8 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley Private not-for-profit | 48 | $22,680 |
| 9 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester Private not-for-profit | 46 | $43,362 |
| 10 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit | 45 | $34,689 |
ShowHide the other 39 Massachusetts colleges offering English Language and Literature
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem State University | Salem | Public | 43 |
| Northeastern University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 42 |
| Williams College | Williamstown | Private not-for-profit | 41 |
| Smith College | Northampton | Private not-for-profit | 40 |
| Brandeis University | Waltham | Private not-for-profit | 34 |
| Amherst College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 29 |
| Framingham State University | Framingham | Public | 25 |
| Worcester State University | Worcester | Public | 23 |
| Clark University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Westfield State University | Westfield | Public | 19 |
| Assumption University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | North Dartmouth | Public | 16 |
| Gordon College | Wenham | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Endicott College | Beverly | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Merrimack College | North Andover | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | Norton | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | North Adams | Public | 9 |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg | Public | 7 |
| Emmanuel College | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | Public | 6 |
| Simmons University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Stonehill College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Dean College | Franklin | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Hampshire College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Holyoke Community College | Holyoke | Public | 4 |
| Lesley University | Cambridge | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Massachusetts Bay Community College | Wellesley Hills | Public | 4 |
| Anna Maria College | Paxton | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Boston | Public | 3 |
| Cape Cod Community College | West Barnstable | Public | 3 |
| Lasell University | Newton | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms | Chicopee | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Springfield College | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Fisher College | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Bentley University | Waltham | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Regis College | Weston | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Roxbury Community College | Roxbury Crossing | Public | 1 |
| Western New England University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Proofreaders and Copy Markers (SOC 43-9081).
Top skills
What Proofreaders and Copy Markers earn in Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing English Language and Literature programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most English Language and Literature degrees?+
University of Massachusetts-Amherst (97 graduates a year), Boston College (89 graduates a year) and Harvard University (73 graduates a year) award the most English Language and Literature degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 49 Massachusetts colleges offer English Language and Literature.
What is the best college for English Language and Literature in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, Northeastern University leads among bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,639, College Scorecard. Williams College and College of the Holy Cross follow. By degrees awarded, University of Massachusetts-Amherst is the largest, with 97 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which English Language and Literature program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northeastern University tops the list at $49,639. 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 Massachusetts?+
The average annual wage for Proofreaders and Copy Markers in Massachusetts is $61,230 (median $57,160), across about 190 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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