Best colleges for English Language and Literature in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
William & Mary, Longwood University and University of Virginia are the top bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. William & Mary leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,697, College Scorecard. University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University award the most English Language and Literature degrees in Virginia: 129, 94 and 79 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 37 Virginia colleges offer English Language and Literature and award 836 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 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,697 | 65 | 89% | — | $19,500 |
| 2 | Longwood University Farmville Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,167 | 21 | 61% | — | $26,500 |
| 3 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,092 | 129 | 96% | — | $15,000 |
| 4 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,155 | 79 | 86% | — | $21,625 |
| 5 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,054 | 53 | 46% | — | $28,676 |
| 6 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,173 | 74 | 68% | — | $22,502 |
| 7 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,890 | 21 | 65% | $28,911 | $24,850 |
| 8 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,540 | 39 | 66% | — | $23,990 |
| 9 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,005 | 94 | 63% | — | $22,750 |
| 10 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,049 | 47 | 80% | — | $22,500 |
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 | Columbia College Vienna Private for-profit · Certificate Small program | $20,322 | 5 | 80% | $10,583 | — |
Colleges awarding the most English Language and Literature degrees in Virginia
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 Virginia Charlottesville Public | 129 | $40,092 |
| 2 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 94 | $27,005 |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 79 | $39,155 |
| 4 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 74 | $33,173 |
| 5 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public | 65 | $40,697 |
| 6 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 53 | $36,054 |
| 7 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 47 | $26,049 |
| 8 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public | 39 | $30,540 |
| 9 | Regent University Virginia Beach Private not-for-profit | 22 | $23,986 |
| 10 | Radford University Radford Public | 22 | $25,407 |
ShowHide the other 27 Virginia colleges offering English Language and Literature
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty University | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Longwood University | Farmville | Public | 21 |
| Christopher Newport University | Newport News | Public | 19 |
| University of Virginia's College at Wise | Wise | Public | 17 |
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Virginia Military Institute | Lexington | Public | 13 |
| Hampton University | Hampton | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Hollins University | Roanoke | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Hampden-Sydney College | Hampden-Sydney | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| University of Richmond | University of Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Norfolk State University | Norfolk | Public | 6 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Mary Baldwin University | Staunton | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Shenandoah University | Winchester | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Southern Virginia University | Buena Vista | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Virginia State University | Petersburg | Public | 5 |
| Columbia College | Vienna | Private for-profit | 5 |
| Marymount University | Arlington | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Roanoke College | Salem | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Randolph College | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Averett University | Danville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Bluefield University | Bluefield | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory | 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 Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing English Language and Literature programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most English Language and Literature degrees?+
University of Virginia (129 graduates a year), Virginia Commonwealth University (94 graduates a year) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (79 graduates a year) award the most English Language and Literature degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 37 Virginia colleges offer English Language and Literature.
What is the best college for English Language and Literature in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, William & Mary leads among bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,697, College Scorecard. Longwood University and University of Virginia follow. By degrees awarded, University of Virginia is the largest, with 129 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which English Language and Literature program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, William & Mary tops the list at $40,697. 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 Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Proofreaders and Copy Markers in Virginia is $49,850 (median $48,090), across about 90 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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