Best Universities for Literature in the World

Updated: July 18, 2023

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 1.8B citations received by 83.2M academic papers made by 3,747 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 Cambridge

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#1 in Europe

#1 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

2. Stanford University

United States | California

For Literature

#1 in North America

#1 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $14,402

3. University of Oxford

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#2 in Europe

#2 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1096

4. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Literature

#2 in North America

#1 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Enrollment: 95,055
Founded: 1827

5. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Literature

#3 in North America

#2 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $21,406
Enrollment: 45,036

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Literature

#4 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $16,326
Enrollment: 50,278

7. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Literature

#5 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $12,411

8. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Literature

#6 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $13,910

9. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Literature

#7 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

10. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Literature

#8 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $17,592
Enrollment: 46,116

11. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Literature

#9 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,262

12. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Literature

#10 in North America

#9 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 83%

13. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Literature

#11 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 85%

14. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Literature

#12 in North America

#11 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,605

15. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Literature

#13 in North America

#12 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 64%

16. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Literature

#14 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $15,895
Enrollment: 52,434

17. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Literature

#15 in North America

#14 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Net Price: $30,958
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,562

18. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Literature

#16 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $8,719
Enrollment: 40,363

19. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Literature

#17 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,727

20. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Literature

#18 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $14,578

21. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Literature

#3 in Europe

#3 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

22. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Literature

#1 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

23. University of Manchester

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#4 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

24. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Literature

#19 in North America

#2 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Enrollment: 59,659
Founded: 1908

25. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Literature

#20 in North America

#3 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 40,036
Founded: 1821

26. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Literature

#21 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,908

27. New York University

United States | New York State

For Literature

#22 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $50,991

28. University College London

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#5 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

29. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Literature

#23 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,021

30. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Literature

#24 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 68%

31. University of Birmingham

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#6 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1900

32. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Literature

#2 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

33. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Literature

#3 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1853

34. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Literature

#25 in North America

#4 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1908

35. University of Leeds

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#7 in Europe

#7 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1904

36. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Literature

#26 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

37. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Literature

#27 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

38. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Literature

#28 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $12,201
Enrollment: 77,881

39. Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Israel | Jerusalem

For Literature

#1 in Asia

#1 in Israel

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 23,500
Founded: 1918

40. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Literature

#29 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $17,628
Enrollment: 40,050

41. King's College London

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#8 in Europe

#8 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1829

42. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Literature

#30 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 72%

43. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Literature

#31 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

44. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Literature

#32 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $18,083
Enrollment: 41,885

45. University of Glasgow

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Literature

#9 in Europe

#9 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1451

46. University of New South Wales

Australia | Sydney

For Literature

#4 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1949

47. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Literature

#33 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $18,107
Enrollment: 26,124

48. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Literature

#34 in North America

#30 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $25,852

49. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Literature

#35 in North America

#31 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $37,450

50. University of Bristol

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#10 in Europe

#10 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

51. Tel Aviv University

Israel | Tel Aviv

For Literature

#2 in Asia

#2 in Israel

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

52. University of Sheffield

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#11 in Europe

#11 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1905

53. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Literature

#36 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 60%

54. Australian National University

Australia | Canberra

For Literature

#5 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1946

55. Monash University

Australia | Clayton

For Literature

#6 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 1958

56. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Literature

#37 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 63%

57. University of Warwick

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#12 in Europe

#12 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

58. University of Amsterdam

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Literature

#13 in Europe

#1 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 31,123
Founded: 1632

59. University of Tokyo

For Literature

#3 in Asia

#1 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 28,133
Founded: 1877

60. University of Nottingham

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#14 in Europe

#13 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1948

61. Utrecht University

Netherlands | Utrecht

For Literature

#15 in Europe

#2 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1636

62. National University of Singapore

Singapore | Singapore City

For Literature

#4 in Asia

#1 in Singapore

Enrollment: 30,098
Founded: 1905

63. Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium | Leuven

For Literature

#16 in Europe

Enrollment: 62,693
Founded: 1425

64. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Literature

#38 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 78%

65. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Literature

#39 in North America

#35 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $29,999

66. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Literature

#40 in North America

#36 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

67. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Literature

#41 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 87%

68. University of Exeter

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#17 in Europe

#14 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

69. Durham University

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#18 in Europe

#15 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

70. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Literature

#42 in North America

#38 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 72%

71. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Literature

#43 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1513
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,297

72. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Literature

#1 in Latin America

#1 in Brazil

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

73. Lancaster University

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#19 in Europe

#16 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Founded: 1964

74. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Literature

#44 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 78%

75. Tsinghua University

China | Beijing

For Literature

#5 in Asia

#1 in China

Enrollment: 48,739
Founded: 1911

76. Imperial College London

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#20 in Europe

#17 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

77. University of Helsinki

Finland | Helsinki

For Literature

#21 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 31,312
Founded: 1640

78. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Literature

#45 in North America

#5 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

79. Lund University

For Literature

#22 in Europe

#1 in Sweden

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1666

80. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Literature

#46 in North America

#41 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 79%

81. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Literature

#47 in North America

#6 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

82. University of Southampton

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#23 in Europe

#18 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

83. University of Sussex

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#24 in Europe

#19 in the United Kingdom

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

84. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Literature

#48 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 73%

85. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Literature

#25 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

86. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Literature

#49 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 65%

87. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Literature

#50 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1207
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 93%

88. University of Auckland

New Zealand | Auckland

For Literature

#1 in New Zealand

Founded: 1883

89. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Literature

#51 in North America

#45 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $16,868
Enrollment: 36,505

90. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Literature

#52 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Net Price: $20,680
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $45,373

91. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Literature

#53 in North America

#47 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,298

92. Aarhus University

Denmark | Aarhus

For Literature

#26 in Europe

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

93. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Literature

#54 in North America

#48 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

94. London School of Economics and Political Science

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#27 in Europe

#20 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1895

95. University of Liverpool

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#28 in Europe

#21 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

96. Zhejiang University

China | Hangzhou

For Literature

#6 in Asia

#2 in China

Enrollment: 60,739
Founded: 1897

97. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Literature

#55 in North America

#49 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 74%

98. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Literature

#56 in North America

#7 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment: 27,300
Founded: 1878

99. University of York

United Kingdom | England

For Literature

#29 in Europe

#22 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

100. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Literature

#57 in North America

#50 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,553