Best colleges for English Language and Literature in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
Gonzaga University, Western Washington University and University of Washington-Seattle Campus are the top bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in Washington by graduate earnings. Gonzaga University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,077, College Scorecard. University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Washington State University and Western Washington University award the most English Language and Literature degrees in Washington: 123, 106 and 61 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 Washington colleges offer English Language and Literature and award 453 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 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,077 | 31 | 86% | $30,006 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,334 | 61 | 65% | — | $19,500 |
| 3 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,622 | 123 | 85% | — | $18,017 |
| 4 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,592 | 26 | 43% | — | $18,591 |
| 5 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,876 | 106 | 60% | — | $21,375 |
| 6 | Whitman College Walla Walla Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,574 | 22 | 81% | $28,508 | — |
| 7 | Whitworth University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,387 | 19 | 71% | $23,510 | $24,642 |
| 8 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,737 | 9 | 62% | $24,653 | $25,701 |
| 9 | University of Puget Sound Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,291 | 14 | 68% | $35,057 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most English Language and Literature degrees in Washington
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 Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 123 | $31,622 |
| 2 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 106 | $28,876 |
| 3 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public | 61 | $32,334 |
| 4 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 31 | $41,077 |
| 5 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public | 26 | $31,592 |
| 6 | Whitman College Walla Walla Private not-for-profit | 22 | $25,574 |
| 7 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 8 | Whitworth University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 19 | $36,387 |
| 9 | University of Puget Sound Tacoma Private not-for-profit | 14 | $29,291 |
| 10 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 5 Washington colleges offering English Language and Literature
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Pacific University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Seattle University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Northwest University | Kirkland | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Heritage University | Toppenish | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Saint Martin's University | Lacey | 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 Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing English Language and Literature programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most English Language and Literature degrees?+
University of Washington-Seattle Campus (123 graduates a year), Washington State University (106 graduates a year) and Western Washington University (61 graduates a year) award the most English Language and Literature degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 Washington colleges offer English Language and Literature.
What is the best college for English Language and Literature in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, Gonzaga University leads among bachelor's English Language and Literature programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,077, College Scorecard. Western Washington University and University of Washington-Seattle Campus follow. By degrees awarded, University of Washington-Seattle Campus is the largest, with 123 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which English Language and Literature program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Gonzaga University tops the list at $41,077. 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 Washington?+
The average annual wage for Proofreaders and Copy Markers in Washington is $58,310 (median $53,890), across about 60 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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