Missouri · English Language and Literature

Best colleges for English Language and Literature in Missouri

Ranked by graduate earnings

Saint Louis University, University of Missouri-Kansas City and University of Missouri-Columbia are the top bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. Saint Louis University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,893, College Scorecard. University of Missouri-Columbia, Missouri State University - Springfield and University of Missouri-Kansas City award the most English Language and Literature degrees in Missouri: 103, 56 and 37 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 34 Missouri colleges offer English Language and Literature and award 460 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
34
offering CIP 23.01
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
460
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$26,057
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
8
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,482
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
54%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Proofreaders and Copy Markers
$50,590
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 7 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
1Saint Louis University
Saint Louis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$33,8932380%$24,886$26,546
2University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,0543755%—$24,125
3University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,48810375%—$23,182
4Truman State University
Kirksville Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,0012769%—$22,844
5Missouri State University - Springfield
Springfield Public · Bachelor's degree
$21,3925658%—$25,000
6Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies
Springfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$26,057343%$14,825$26,215
7Columbia College
Columbia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$24,240942%$23,247$30,251

Colleges awarding the most English Language and Literature degrees in Missouri

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)
1University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia Public
103$30,488
2Missouri State University - Springfield
Springfield Public
56$21,392
3University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City Public
37$32,054
4University of Missouri-St Louis
Saint Louis Public
34Not reported
5Truman State University
Kirksville Public
27$29,001
6Saint Louis University
Saint Louis Private not-for-profit
23$33,893
7Washington University in St Louis
St. Louis Private not-for-profit
23Not reported
8University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg Public
19Not reported
9Lindenwood University
Saint Charles Private not-for-profit
19Not reported
10Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis Private not-for-profit
14Not reported
Show the other 24 Missouri colleges offering English Language and Literature
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Northwest Missouri State UniversityMaryvillePublic11
Missouri Southern State UniversityJoplinPublic10
Columbia CollegeColumbiaPrivate not-for-profit9
Rockhurst UniversityKansas CityPrivate not-for-profit9
Park UniversityParkvillePrivate not-for-profit8
College of the OzarksPoint LookoutPrivate not-for-profit7
Webster UniversitySaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit7
Central Methodist University - College of Graduate and Extended StudiesFayettePrivate not-for-profit6
Missouri Baptist UniversitySaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit5
William Jewell CollegeLibertyPrivate not-for-profit5
Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts and SciencesFayettePrivate not-for-profit4
Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape GirardeauPublic4
Westminster CollegeFultonPrivate not-for-profit4
Drury University - College of Continuing Professional StudiesSpringfieldPrivate not-for-profit3
Cottey CollegeNevadaPrivate not-for-profit2
Stephens CollegeColumbiaPrivate not-for-profit2
William Woods UniversityFultonPrivate not-for-profit2
Avila UniversityKansas CityPrivate not-for-profit1
Drury UniversitySpringfieldPrivate not-for-profit1
Hannibal-LaGrange UniversityHannibalPrivate not-for-profit1
Lincoln UniversityJefferson CityPublic1
Missouri Valley CollegeMarshallPrivate not-for-profit1
Missouri University of Science and TechnologyRollaPublic1
Southwest Baptist UniversityBolivarPrivate 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 Missouri

Jobs in Missouri
110
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$50,590
median $52,920
Best-paying metro
$55,870
St. Louis, MO-IL

Related careers

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
$79,580 avg · 1,040 jobs
Proofreaders and Copy Markers
$50,590 avg · 110 jobs

Common questions

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

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

University of Missouri-Columbia (103 graduates a year), Missouri State University - Springfield (56 graduates a year) and University of Missouri-Kansas City (37 graduates a year) award the most English Language and Literature degrees in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 34 Missouri colleges offer English Language and Literature.

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

By graduate earnings, Saint Louis University leads among bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,893, College Scorecard. University of Missouri-Kansas City and University of Missouri-Columbia follow. By degrees awarded, University of Missouri-Columbia is the largest, with 103 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Saint Louis University tops the list at $33,893. 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 Missouri?+

The average annual wage for Proofreaders and Copy Markers in Missouri is $50,590 (median $52,920), across about 110 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.

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.

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card