Choosing a college to study English can be a big decision. To help, we’ve created a list of the 30 best colleges for English majors in 2024. For each school, we’ll tell you about their GPA, SAT and ACT scores, acceptance rates, what they expect from students, job prospects after graduation, and academic highlights.
1. Harvard University
GPA: 3.9
Median SAT: 1520
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 4.6%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, excellent essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become successful writers, editors, professors, or work in publishing and media.
Academic Highlights: Harvard offers a wide range of English literature courses from ancient to modern times. Students get to read and discuss famous books, write essays, and attend lectures by famous authors. Harvard’s library has one of the largest collections of books in the world, providing great resources for research.
2. Stanford University
GPA: 3.95
Median SAT: 1505
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 4.3%
Requirements: High GPA, top SAT/ACT scores, compelling essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates find jobs as writers, editors, teachers, or work in tech companies, media, and publishing.
Academic Highlights: Stanford’s English program focuses on creativity and critical thinking. Students study different types of literature and get to work on their own writing projects. Stanford also offers opportunities to study abroad and take part in internships that provide real-world experience.
3. Yale University
GPA: 3.9
Median SAT: 1510
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 6.1%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, impressive essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Yale graduates often become successful authors, journalists, teachers, or work in publishing and media.
Academic Highlights: Yale’s English department is known for its focus on both classic and modern literature. Students can take courses in everything from Shakespeare to contemporary fiction. Yale also has a strong creative writing program and many opportunities for students to publish their work.
4. Princeton University
GPA: 3.92
Median SAT: 1510
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 5.8%
Requirements: High GPA, top SAT/ACT scores, strong essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, editors, professors, or work in publishing, media, and other creative fields.
Academic Highlights: Princeton’s English program emphasizes critical reading and writing skills. Students study a wide range of literature and have the chance to work closely with professors on research projects. Princeton also offers many opportunities for students to present their work at conferences and in publications.
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5. Columbia University
GPA: 3.91
Median SAT: 1505
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 5.9%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, excellent essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become authors, journalists, teachers, or work in publishing and media.
Academic Highlights: Columbia’s English department is known for its focus on literary theory and criticism. Students study a wide range of texts from different periods and genres. Columbia also offers a strong creative writing program and many opportunities for students to get involved in literary magazines and other publications.
6. University of Chicago
GPA: 3.9
Median SAT: 1530
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 6.2%
Requirements: High GPA, top SAT/ACT scores, strong essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, editors, professors, or work in publishing, media, and other creative fields.
Academic Highlights: The University of Chicago’s English program focuses on close reading and critical analysis of texts. Students can take courses in a wide range of literature, from ancient to modern times. The program also emphasizes writing skills and offers many opportunities for students to present their work.
7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
GPA: 4.0
Median SAT: 1540
Median ACT: 35
Acceptance Rate: 6.7%
Requirements: High GPA, top SAT/ACT scores, strong essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often work in technology-related fields, writing, editing, or in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: MIT’s English program combines literature studies with a focus on technology and media. Students can explore how literature interacts with other fields like digital media and science. The program also offers opportunities for creative writing and interdisciplinary research.
8. University of Pennsylvania
GPA: 3.9
Median SAT: 1510
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 7.4%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, excellent essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, journalists, teachers, or work in publishing and media.
Academic Highlights: The University of Pennsylvania’s English program is known for its interdisciplinary approach. Students can take courses in literature, film, and digital media. The program also offers many opportunities for research and creative writing.
9. Duke University
GPA: 3.9
Median SAT: 1500
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 7.7%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, compelling essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, editors, professors, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: Duke’s English program emphasizes both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for students to get involved in literary magazines and other publications.
10. Northwestern University
GPA: 3.9
Median SAT: 1480
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 9.0%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, impressive essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, journalists, editors, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: Northwestern’s English program is known for its strong focus on both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in everything from Shakespeare to contemporary fiction. The program also offers many opportunities for internships and study abroad experiences.
11. Johns Hopkins University
GPA: 3.92
Median SAT: 1510
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 9.2%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, excellent essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become successful writers, journalists, professors, or work in publishing and media.
Academic Highlights: Johns Hopkins is known for its excellent creative writing program. Students can take courses in fiction, poetry, and non-fiction writing. The English department also offers courses in literary analysis and criticism, providing a well-rounded education.
12. Dartmouth College
GPA: 3.9
Median SAT: 1485
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 9.2%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, compelling essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, editors, teachers, or work in publishing and media.
Academic Highlights: Dartmouth’s English program emphasizes the study of literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for students to get involved in literary magazines and other publications.
13. Brown University
GPA: 3.91
Median SAT: 1500
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 7.1%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, impressive essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, journalists, editors, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: Brown’s English program is known for its flexible curriculum. Students can design their own course of study, focusing on the areas of literature and writing that interest them most. The program also offers many opportunities for research and creative writing.
14. Cornell University
GPA: 3.9
Median SAT: 1480
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 10.6%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, excellent essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, journalists, teachers, or work in publishing and media.
Academic Highlights: Cornell’s English program offers a wide range of courses in literature, creative writing, and literary theory. Students can study everything from medieval literature to contemporary fiction. The program also emphasizes writing skills and provides many opportunities for students to publish their work.
15. University of California, Berkeley
GPA: 3.89
Median SAT: 1450
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 16.8%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, impressive essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, editors, professors, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: UC Berkeley’s English program is known for its focus on both literature and critical theory. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for creative writing and interdisciplinary research.
Best College for English Major
16. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
GPA: 3.88
Median SAT: 1435
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 20.2%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, compelling essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, journalists, teachers, or work in publishing and media.
Academic Highlights: The University of Michigan’s English program emphasizes the study of literature and writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for students to get involved in literary magazines and other publications.
17. University of Southern California
GPA: 3.8
Median SAT: 1440
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 11.4%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, impressive essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, editors, teachers, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: USC’s English program focuses on both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for internships and study abroad experiences.
18. New York University
GPA: 3.8
Median SAT: 1440
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 16.2%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, compelling essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, editors, teachers, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: NYU’s English program is known for its strong focus on both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in everything from Shakespeare to contemporary fiction. The program also offers many opportunities for internships and study abroad experiences.
19. University of Virginia
GPA: 3.85
Median SAT: 1430
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 23.8%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, excellent essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, journalists, editors, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: The University of Virginia’s English program emphasizes both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for students to get involved in literary magazines and other publications.
20. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
GPA: 3.85
Median SAT: 1410
Median ACT: 31
Acceptance Rate: 21.9%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, impressive essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, editors, teachers, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: UNC’s English program is known for its focus on both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for internships and study abroad experiences.
21. University of California, Los Angeles
GPA: 3.85
Median SAT: 1410
Median ACT: 31
Acceptance Rate: 14.3%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, excellent essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, journalists, editors, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: UCLA’s English program emphasizes both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for students to get involved in literary magazines and other publications.
22. University of Texas at Austin
GPA: 3.83
Median SAT: 1375
Median ACT: 30
Acceptance Rate: 32.0%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, compelling essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, editors, teachers, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: The University of Texas at Austin’s English program focuses on both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for internships and study abroad experiences.
23. University of Wisconsin-Madison
GPA: 3.85
Median SAT: 1380
Median ACT: 29
Acceptance Rate: 57.6%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, excellent essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, journalists, editors, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: UW-Madison’s English program emphasizes both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for students to get involved in literary magazines and other publications.
24. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
GPA: 3.8
Median SAT: 1370
Median ACT: 30
Acceptance Rate: 59.0%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, compelling essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, editors, teachers, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: UIUC’s English program focuses on both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for internships and study abroad experiences.
25. University of Washington
GPA: 3.8
Median SAT: 1380
Median ACT: 30
Acceptance Rate: 52.0%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, excellent essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, journalists, editors, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: UW’s English program emphasizes both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for students to get involved in literary magazines and other publications.
26. University of Florida
GPA: 3.8
Median SAT: 1375
Median ACT: 30
Acceptance Rate: 36.6%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, compelling essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, editors, teachers, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: UF’s English program focuses on both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for internships and study abroad experiences.
27. Pennsylvania State University
GPA: 3.7
Median SAT: 1290
Median ACT: 28
Acceptance Rate: 54.0%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, excellent essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, journalists, editors, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: Penn State’s English program emphasizes both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for students to get involved in literary magazines and other publications.
28. Indiana University Bloomington
GPA: 3.7
Median SAT: 1270
Median ACT: 27
Acceptance Rate: 78.4%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, compelling essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, editors, teachers, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: Indiana University’s English program focuses on both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for internships and study abroad experiences.
29. University of Minnesota Twin Cities
GPA: 3.75
Median SAT: 1340
Median ACT: 28
Acceptance Rate: 57.0%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, excellent essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, journalists, editors, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: The University of Minnesota’s English program emphasizes both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for students to get involved in literary magazines and other publications.
30. Ohio State University
GPA: 3.7
Median SAT: 1340
Median ACT: 28
Acceptance Rate: 52.0%
Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, compelling essays, and recommendation letters.
Professional Outcomes: Graduates often become writers, editors, teachers, or work in media and publishing.
Academic Highlights: Ohio State’s English program focuses on both literature and creative writing. Students can take courses in a wide range of genres and periods. The program also offers many opportunities for internships and study abroad experiences.
Best Universities for English Majors – Conclusion
Choosing the right college for an English major is a significant decision that can shape your academic and professional future. The top 30 Best Universities for English Majors above offer rigorous programs and excellent faculty. And numerous opportunities for literary exploration and career development. Whether you aspire to be a writer, editor, teacher, or scholar, these institutions provide the foundation and resources needed to succeed. Each school has unique strengths, from creative writing workshops and literary magazines to interdisciplinary research opportunities and vibrant literary communities. By considering factors like GPA, SAT and ACT scores, acceptance rates, requirements, and professional outcomes, you can find the college that best matches your aspirations and set the stage for a rewarding career in English.