South Carolina · English Language and Literature

Best colleges for English Language and Literature in South Carolina

Ranked by graduate earnings

Clemson University, College of Charleston and Winthrop University are the top bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in South Carolina by graduate earnings. Clemson University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,509, College Scorecard. University of South Carolina-Columbia, Clemson University and College of Charleston award the most English Language and Literature degrees in South Carolina: 83, 65 and 54 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 28 South Carolina colleges offer English Language and Literature and award 410 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
28
offering CIP 23.01
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
410
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$28,219
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
9
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,548
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
52%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Proofreaders and Copy Markers
$44,830
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 9 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
1Clemson University
Clemson Public · Bachelor's degree
$33,5096587%—$23,123
2College of Charleston
Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,5445466%—$25,000
3Winthrop University
Rock Hill Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,2193257%—$24,500
4University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree
$25,7298379%—$26,000
5Wofford College
Spartanburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$34,4781584%$24,459$25,941
6University of South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$30,1501943%—$25,000
7University of South Carolina Aiken
Aiken Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$27,546740%—$27,000
8Coastal Carolina University
Conway Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$25,3101748%—$26,000
9Furman University
Greenville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$16,5831879%$24,932—

Colleges awarding the most English Language and Literature degrees in South 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.

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 South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia Public
83$25,729
2Clemson University
Clemson Public
65$33,509
3College of Charleston
Charleston Public
54$29,544
4Winthrop University
Rock Hill Public
32$28,219
5University of South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg Public
19$30,150
6Furman University
Greenville Private not-for-profit
18$16,583
7Coastal Carolina University
Conway Public
17$25,310
8Lander University
Greenwood Public
15Not reported
9Wofford College
Spartanburg Private not-for-profit
15$34,478
10Anderson University
Anderson Private not-for-profit
13Not reported
Show the other 18 South Carolina colleges offering English Language and Literature
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
University of South Carolina BeaufortBlufftonPublic11
Presbyterian CollegeClintonPrivate not-for-profit10
Bob Jones UniversityGreenvillePrivate not-for-profit8
Francis Marion UniversityFlorencePublic8
University of South Carolina AikenAikenPublic7
North Greenville UniversityTigervillePrivate not-for-profit6
Converse UniversitySpartanburgPrivate not-for-profit5
Citadel Military College of South CarolinaCharlestonPublic4
Erskine CollegeDue WestPrivate not-for-profit4
Allen UniversityColumbiaPrivate not-for-profit3
Columbia CollegeColumbiaPrivate not-for-profit3
Trident Technical CollegeCharlestonPublic3
South Carolina State UniversityOrangeburgPublic2
Benedict CollegeColumbiaPrivate not-for-profit1
Southern Wesleyan UniversityCentralPrivate not-for-profit1
Claflin UniversityOrangeburgPrivate not-for-profit1
Columbia International UniversityColumbiaPrivate not-for-profit1
Newberry CollegeNewberryPrivate 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 South Carolina

Jobs in South Carolina
40
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$44,830
median $42,900
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
$76,390 avg · 840 jobs
Proofreaders and Copy Markers
$44,830 avg · 40 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing English Language and Literature programs in South Carolina.

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

University of South Carolina-Columbia (83 graduates a year), Clemson University (65 graduates a year) and College of Charleston (54 graduates a year) award the most English Language and Literature degrees in South Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 28 South Carolina colleges offer English Language and Literature.

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

By graduate earnings, Clemson University leads among bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in South Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,509, College Scorecard. College of Charleston and Winthrop University follow. By degrees awarded, University of South Carolina-Columbia is the largest, with 83 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Clemson University tops the list at $33,509. 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 South Carolina?+

The average annual wage for Proofreaders and Copy Markers in South Carolina is $44,830 (median $42,900), across about 40 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.

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