Best colleges for English Language and Literature in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Pennsylvania, Gettysburg College and Villanova University are the top bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. University of Pennsylvania leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,967, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania State University, Temple University and University of Pennsylvania award the most English Language and Literature degrees in Pennsylvania: 105, 68 and 63 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 84 Pennsylvania colleges offer English Language and Literature and award 1,089 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 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,967 | 63 | 97% | $22,055 | $19,500 |
| 2 | Gettysburg College Gettysburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,601 | 23 | 83% | $24,453 | $26,724 |
| 3 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,643 | 33 | 92% | $33,774 | $26,899 |
| 4 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,865 | 48 | 58% | — | $25,934 |
| 5 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,205 | 36 | 66% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,887 | 25 | 77% | $32,060 | $26,098 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,848 | 105 | 86% | — | $26,000 |
| 8 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,914 | 68 | 75% | — | $25,949 |
| 9 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,216 | 26 | 54% | — | $29,725 |
| 10 | Dickinson College Carlisle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,510 | 24 | 80% | $22,831 | $19,000 |
Colleges awarding the most English Language and Literature degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 105 | $29,848 |
| 2 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 68 | $28,914 |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 63 | $40,967 |
| 4 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public | 55 | $22,588 |
| 5 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester Public | 53 | Not reported |
| 6 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public | 48 | $36,865 |
| 7 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public | 36 | $34,205 |
| 8 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit | 33 | $37,643 |
| 9 | Lafayette College Easton Private not-for-profit | 26 | Not reported |
| 10 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public | 26 | $28,216 |
ShowHide the other 74 Pennsylvania colleges offering English Language and Literature
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duquesne University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Haverford College | Haverford | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Lehigh University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Dickinson College | Carlisle | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Gettysburg College | Gettysburg | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Public | 19 |
| Bucknell University | Lewisburg | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Harrisburg | Middletown | Public | 15 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh | Public | 15 |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California | Public | 15 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Public | 14 |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Abington | Abington | Public | 12 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg | Public | 11 |
| Lebanon Valley College | Annville | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Lycoming College | Williamsport | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown | Public | 10 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Bucks County Community College | Newtown | Public | 9 |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Chatham University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg | Public | 8 |
| Washington & Jefferson College | Washington | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Wilkes University | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Scranton | Dunmore | Public | 7 |
| Thiel College | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Arcadia University | Glenside | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | Public | 6 |
| Mercyhurst University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Brandywine | Media | Public | 6 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| DeSales University | Center Valley | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Chestnut Hill College | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| King's College | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Erie-Behrend College | Erie | Public | 5 |
| University of Scranton | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | Bryn Athyn | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Gannon University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Altoona | Altoona | Public | 4 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State York | York | Public | 4 |
| Robert Morris University | Moon Township | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Butler County Community College | Butler | Public | 3 |
| Carlow University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Cedar Crest College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Geneva College | Beaver Falls | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lincoln University | Lincoln University | Public | 3 |
| Marywood University | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Muhlenberg College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Cairn University - Langhorne | Langhorne | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Point Park University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Saint Vincent College | Latrobe | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of Valley Forge | Phoenixville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Westminster College | New Wilmington | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Albright College | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Alvernia University | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Community College of Beaver County | Monaca | Public | 2 |
| Neumann University | Aston | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Westmoreland County Community College | Youngwood | Public | 2 |
| Delaware Valley University | Doylestown | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Holy Family University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Immaculata University | Immaculata | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State DuBois | DuBois | Public | 1 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | Bradford | Public | 1 |
| Saint Francis University | Loretto | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Widener University | Chester | 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 Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing English Language and Literature programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most English Language and Literature degrees?+
Pennsylvania State University (105 graduates a year), Temple University (68 graduates a year) and University of Pennsylvania (63 graduates a year) award the most English Language and Literature degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 84 Pennsylvania colleges offer English Language and Literature.
What is the best college for English Language and Literature in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, University of Pennsylvania leads among bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,967, College Scorecard. Gettysburg College and Villanova University follow. By degrees awarded, Pennsylvania State University is the largest, with 105 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which English Language and Literature program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Pennsylvania tops the list at $40,967. 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 Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Proofreaders and Copy Markers in Pennsylvania is $55,170 (median $47,510), across about 230 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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