Best colleges for English Language and Literature in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
North Carolina State University at Raleigh, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Wake Forest University are the top bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. North Carolina State University at Raleigh leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,694, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and North Carolina State University at Raleigh award the most English Language and Literature degrees in North Carolina: 128, 123 and 123 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 43 North Carolina colleges offer English Language and Literature and award 1,004 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 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,694 | 123 | 85% | — | $21,680 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,021 | 123 | 69% | — | $23,071 |
| 3 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,449 | 36 | 89% | $20,914 | $19,500 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,060 | 128 | 91% | — | $14,794 |
| 5 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,927 | 54 | 60% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,494 | 68 | 56% | — | $19,500 |
| 7 | East Carolina University Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,133 | 64 | 63% | — | $25,400 |
| 8 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,384 | 59 | 71% | — | $24,636 |
| 9 | Appalachian State University Boone Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,397 | 87 | 75% | — | $21,430 |
| 10 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $20,483 | 22 | 97% | $16,260 | $15,362 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davidson College Davidson Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $34,707 | 26 | 91% | $16,628 | — |
Colleges awarding the most English Language and Literature degrees in North Carolina
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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public | 128 | $30,060 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 123 | $32,021 |
| 3 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 123 | $32,694 |
| 4 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 87 | $23,397 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public | 68 | $29,494 |
| 6 | East Carolina University Greenville Public | 64 | $29,133 |
| 7 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public | 59 | $24,384 |
| 8 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public | 54 | $29,927 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville Public | 36 | $19,136 |
| 10 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit | 36 | $31,449 |
ShowHide the other 33 North Carolina colleges offering English Language and Literature
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson College | Davidson | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
| Duke University | Durham | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | Public | 21 |
| Elon University | Elon | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| High Point University | High Point | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro | Public | 14 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | 12 |
| Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City | Public | 8 |
| Warren Wilson College | Swannanoa | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham | Public | 6 |
| Wingate University | Wingate | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | 5 |
| Salem College | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Lees-McRae College | Banner Elk | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Montreat College | Montreat | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Barton College | Wilson | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Brevard College | Brevard | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Catawba College | Salisbury | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Greensboro College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Methodist University | Fayetteville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | Rocky Mount | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| William Peace University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Guilford College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Pfeiffer University | Misenheimer | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Saint Augustine's University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary | Wake Forest | 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 North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing English Language and Literature programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most English Language and Literature degrees?+
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (128 graduates a year), University of North Carolina at Charlotte (123 graduates a year) and North Carolina State University at Raleigh (123 graduates a year) award the most English Language and Literature degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 43 North Carolina colleges offer English Language and Literature.
What is the best college for English Language and Literature in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, North Carolina State University at Raleigh leads among bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,694, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Wake Forest University follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the largest, with 128 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which English Language and Literature program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, North Carolina State University at Raleigh tops the list at $32,694. 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 North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Proofreaders and Copy Markers in North Carolina is $47,740 (median $46,140), across about 70 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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