Best Universities for Literature in the World

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the World ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 26.8M citations received by 2.15M academic papers made by 4,042 universities in the World was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Oxford

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#1 in Europe

#1 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University of Cambridge

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#2 in Europe

#2 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

3. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Literature

#1 in North America

#1 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

4. Stanford University

United States | California

For Literature

#2 in North America

#1 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

5. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Literature

#3 in North America

#2 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

6. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Literature

#4 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

7. University College London

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#3 in Europe

#3 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Literature

#5 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

9. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Literature

#6 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

10. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Literature

#7 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

11. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Literature

#8 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

12. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Literature

#9 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

13. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Literature

#10 in North America

#9 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

14. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Literature

#11 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

15. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Literature

#12 in North America

#11 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

16. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Literature

#13 in North America

#12 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

17. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Literature

#14 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

18. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Literature

#15 in North America

#14 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

19. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Literature

#16 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

20. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Literature

#17 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

21. University of Manchester

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#4 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

22. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Literature

#1 in Australia

Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

23. New York University

United States | New York State

For Literature

#18 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

24. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Literature

#5 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

25. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Literature

#19 in North America

#2 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

26. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Literature

#20 in North America

#3 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

27. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Literature

#21 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

28. Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Israel | Jerusalem

For Literature

#1 in Asia

#1 in Israel

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 23,500
Founded: 1918

29. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Literature

#22 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

30. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Literature

#23 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

31. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Literature

#2 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1853

32. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Literature

#24 in North America

#4 in Canada

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

33. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Literature

#25 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

34. King's College London

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#6 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1829

35. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Literature

#26 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

36. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Literature

#3 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

37. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Literature

#27 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

38. University of Birmingham

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#7 in Europe

#7 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1900

39. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Literature

#28 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

40. University of Leeds

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#8 in Europe

#8 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1904

41. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Literature

#29 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

42. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Literature

#30 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

43. University of Glasgow

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Literature

#9 in Europe

#9 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1451

44. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Literature

#31 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

45. University of Amsterdam

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Literature

#10 in Europe

#1 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 41,000
Founded: 1632

46. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Literature

#32 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

47. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Literature

#33 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

48. Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium | Leuven

For Literature

#11 in Europe

Enrollment: 62,693
Founded: 1425

49. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Literature

#34 in North America

#30 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

50. Tel Aviv University

Israel | Tel Aviv

For Literature

#2 in Asia

#2 in Israel

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

51. University of Bristol

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#12 in Europe

#10 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

52. University of Warwick

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#13 in Europe

#11 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

53. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Literature

#35 in North America

#31 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

54. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Literature

#36 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

55. University of New South Wales

Australia | Sydney

For Literature

#4 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1949

56. University of Sheffield

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#14 in Europe

#12 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1905

57. Monash University

Australia | Clayton

For Literature

#5 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 1958

58. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Literature

#37 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

59. University of Nottingham

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#15 in Europe

#13 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1948

60. Utrecht University

Netherlands | Utrecht

For Literature

#16 in Europe

#2 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1636

61. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Literature

#38 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

62. University of Tokyo

For Literature

#3 in Asia

#1 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,218
Founded: 1877

63. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Literature

#39 in North America

#35 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

64. Durham University

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#17 in Europe

#14 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

65. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Literature

#40 in North America

#36 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

66. University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Literature

#4 in Asia

#1 in China

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 21,652
Founded: 1911

67. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Literature

#1 in Latin America

#1 in Brazil

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 97,964
Founded: 1827

68. Pierre and Marie Curie University

France | Ile-de-France

For Literature

#18 in Europe

#1 in France

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 35,114
Founded: 1150

69. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Literature

#41 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

70. Lund University

For Literature

#19 in Europe

#1 in Sweden

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1666

71. National University of Singapore

Singapore | Singapore City

For Literature

#5 in Asia

#1 in Singapore

Enrollment: 30,098
Founded: 1905

72. University of Exeter

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#20 in Europe

#15 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

73. Australian National University

Australia | Canberra

For Literature

#6 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1946

74. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Literature

#42 in North America

#38 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

75. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Literature

#43 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

76. University of Helsinki

Finland | Helsinki

For Literature

#21 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 31,312
Founded: 1640

77. Imperial College London

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#22 in Europe

#16 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

78. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Literature

#44 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

79. University of Oregon

United States | Oregon

For Literature

#45 in North America

#41 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

80. Lancaster University

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#23 in Europe

#17 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

81. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Literature

#46 in North America

#5 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

82. University of Sussex

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#24 in Europe

#18 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 17,319
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1961

83. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Literature

#47 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

84. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Literature

#48 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

85. University of Auckland

New Zealand | Auckland

For Literature

#1 in New Zealand

Founded: 1883

86. University of Southampton

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#25 in Europe

#19 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

87. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Literature

#49 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

88. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Literature

#50 in North America

#45 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

89. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Literature

#51 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

90. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Literature

#26 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

91. Aarhus University

Denmark | Aarhus

For Literature

#27 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 33,020
Founded: 1928

92. University of Oslo

For Literature

#28 in Europe

#1 in Norway

Enrollment: 26,650
Founded: 1811

93. London School of Economics and Political Science

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#29 in Europe

#20 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 9,218
Founded: 1895

94. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Literature

#52 in North America

#6 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

95. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Literature

#53 in North America

#47 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

96. University of London

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#30 in Europe

#21 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

97. Tsinghua University

China | Beijing

For Literature

#6 in Asia

#2 in China

Enrollment: 48,739
Founded: 1911

98. University of Liverpool

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#31 in Europe

#22 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

99. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Literature

#54 in North America

#48 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

100. University of York

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#32 in Europe

#23 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963