Best Universities for Literature in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 12M citations received by 697K academic papers made by 1,010 universities in North America 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 Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Literature

#1 in Canada

#3 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

2. Stanford University

United States | California

For Literature

#1 in the United States

#4 in the World

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

3. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Literature

#2 in the United States

#5 in the World

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

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Literature

#3 in the United States

#6 in the World

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

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Literature

#4 in the United States

#8 in the World

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

6. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Literature

#5 in the United States

#9 in the World

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

7. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Literature

#6 in the United States

#10 in the World

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

8. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Literature

#7 in the United States

#11 in the World

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

9. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Literature

#8 in the United States

#12 in the World

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

10. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Literature

#9 in the United States

#13 in the World

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

11. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Literature

#10 in the United States

#14 in the World

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

12. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Literature

#11 in the United States

#15 in the World

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

13. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Literature

#12 in the United States

#16 in the World

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

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Literature

#13 in the United States

#17 in the World

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

15. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Literature

#14 in the United States

#18 in the World

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

16. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Literature

#15 in the United States

#19 in the World

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

17. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Literature

#16 in the United States

#20 in the World

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

18. New York University

United States | New York State

For Literature

#17 in the United States

#23 in the World

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

19. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Literature

#2 in Canada

#25 in the World

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

20. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Literature

#3 in Canada

#26 in the World

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

21. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Literature

#18 in the United States

#27 in the World

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

22. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Literature

#19 in the United States

#29 in the World

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

23. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Literature

#20 in the United States

#30 in the World

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

24. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Literature

#4 in Canada

#32 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

25. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Literature

#21 in the United States

#33 in the World

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

26. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Literature

#22 in the United States

#35 in the World

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

27. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Literature

#23 in the United States

#37 in the World

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

28. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Literature

#24 in the United States

#39 in the World

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

29. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Literature

#25 in the United States

#41 in the World

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

30. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Literature

#26 in the United States

#42 in the World

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

31. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Literature

#27 in the United States

#44 in the World

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

32. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Literature

#28 in the United States

#46 in the World

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

33. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Literature

#29 in the United States

#47 in the World

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

34. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Literature

#30 in the United States

#49 in the World

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

35. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Literature

#31 in the United States

#53 in the World

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

36. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Literature

#32 in the United States

#54 in the World

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

37. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Literature

#33 in the United States

#58 in the World

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

38. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Literature

#34 in the United States

#61 in the World

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

39. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Literature

#35 in the United States

#63 in the World

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

40. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Literature

#36 in the United States

#65 in the World

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

41. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Literature

#37 in the United States

#69 in the World

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

42. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Literature

#38 in the United States

#74 in the World

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

43. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Literature

#39 in the United States

#75 in the World

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

44. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Literature

#40 in the United States

#78 in the World

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

45. University of Oregon

United States | Oregon

For Literature

#41 in the United States

#79 in the World

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

46. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Literature

#5 in Canada

#81 in the World

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

47. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Literature

#42 in the United States

#83 in the World

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

48. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Literature

#43 in the United States

#84 in the World

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

49. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Literature

#44 in the United States

#87 in the World

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

50. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Literature

#45 in the United States

#88 in the World

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

51. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Literature

#46 in the United States

#89 in the World

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

52. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Literature

#6 in Canada

#94 in the World

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

53. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Literature

#47 in the United States

#95 in the World

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

54. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Literature

#48 in the United States

#99 in the World

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

55. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Literature

#49 in the United States

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

56. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Literature

#50 in the United States

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

57. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Literature

#51 in the United States

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

58. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Literature

#52 in the United States

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

59. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Literature

#53 in the United States

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

60. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Literature

#7 in Canada

#107 in the World

Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

61. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Literature

#54 in the United States

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

62. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Literature

#8 in Canada

#110 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

63. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Literature

#55 in the United States

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

64. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Literature

#9 in Canada

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

65. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Literature

#56 in the United States

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

66. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Literature

#10 in Canada

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

67. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Literature

#57 in the United States

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

68. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Literature

#58 in the United States

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

69. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Literature

#59 in the United States

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

70. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Literature

#11 in Canada

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

71. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Literature

#60 in the United States

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

72. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Literature

#61 in the United States

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

73. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Literature

#62 in the United States

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

74. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Literature

#63 in the United States

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

75. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Literature

#64 in the United States

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

76. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Literature

#65 in the United States

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

77. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Literature

#66 in the United States

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

78. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Literature

#12 in Canada

#151 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

79. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Literature

#67 in the United States

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

80. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Literature

#68 in the United States

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

81. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Literature

#69 in the United States

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

82. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Literature

#70 in the United States

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

83. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Literature

#13 in Canada

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

84. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Literature

#71 in the United States

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

85. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Literature

#72 in the United States

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

86. Boston College

United States | Massachusetts

For Literature

#73 in the United States

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1488
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,559

87. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Literature

#74 in the United States

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

88. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Literature

#75 in the United States

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

89. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Literature

#76 in the United States

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

90. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Literature

#77 in the United States

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

91. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Literature

#78 in the United States

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

92. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Literature

#79 in the United States

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

93. Syracuse University

United States | New York State

For Literature

#80 in the United States

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

94. University of Victoria

Canada | British Columbia

For Literature

#14 in Canada

#198 in the World

Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1963

95. California University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Literature

#81 in the United States

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $6,250
Enrollment: 6,885

96. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Literature

#82 in the United States

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

97. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Literature

#83 in the United States

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

98. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Literature

#84 in the United States

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

99. Georgia State University

United States | Georgia

For Literature

#85 in the United States

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

100. Texas Tech University

United States | Texas

For Literature

#86 in the United States

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%