100 Best colleges for Literature in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 15.7M citations received by 702K academic papers made by 991 universities in the United States 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. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Literature

#1 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

2. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Literature

#3 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

3. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Literature

#4 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

4. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Literature

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Literature

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

6. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Literature

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

7. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Literature

#8 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

8. University of Texas at Austin

For Literature

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Literature

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

10. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Literature

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

11. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Literature

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

12. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Literature

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

13. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Literature

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Literature

#15 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

15. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Literature

#16 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

16. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Literature

#17 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

17. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Literature

#19 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

18. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Literature

#20 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

19. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Literature

#21 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

20. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Literature

#23 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

21. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Literature

#24 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

22. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Literature

#25 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

23. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Literature

#26 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

24. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Literature

#28 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

25. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Literature

#29 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

26. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Literature

#30 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

27. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Literature

#31 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

28. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Literature

#32 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

29. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Literature

#33 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

30. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Literature

#34 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

31. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Literature

#35 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

32. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Literature

#36 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

33. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Literature

#37 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

34. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Literature

#38 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

35. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Literature

#39 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

36. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Literature

#40 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

37. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Literature

#41 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

38. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Literature

#42 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

39. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Literature

#43 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

40. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Literature

#44 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

41. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Literature

#45 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

42. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Literature

#47 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

43. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Literature

#48 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

44. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Literature

#49 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

45. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Literature

#51 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

46. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Literature

#52 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

47. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Literature

#54 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

48. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Literature

#55 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

49. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Literature

#56 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

50. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Literature

#57 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

51. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Literature

#58 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

52. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Literature

#59 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

53. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Literature

#63 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

54. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Literature

#64 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

55. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Literature

#66 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

56. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Literature

#67 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

57. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Literature

#68 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

58. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Literature

#69 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

59. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Literature

#70 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

60. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Literature

#71 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,590

61. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Literature

#72 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

62. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Literature

#73 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

63. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Literature

#74 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

64. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Literature

#75 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

65. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Literature

#77 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

66. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Literature

#78 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

67. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Literature

#79 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

68. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Literature

#80 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

69. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Literature

#82 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

70. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Literature

#83 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

71. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Literature

#84 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

72. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Literature

#85 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

73. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Literature

#86 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

74. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Literature

#87 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

75. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Literature

#88 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

76. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Literature

#89 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

77. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Literature

#90 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

78. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Literature

#91 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

79. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Literature

#93 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

80. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Literature

#95 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

81. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Literature

#96 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

82. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Literature

#97 in North America

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

83. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Literature

#98 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

84. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Literature

#99 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

85. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Literature

#100 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

86. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Literature

#101 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

87. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Literature

#103 in North America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

88. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Literature

#104 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

89. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Literature

#105 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

90. Bowling Green State University

Ohio | Bowling Green

For Literature

#106 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

91. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Literature

#108 in North America

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 84%

92. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Literature

#109 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

93. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Literature

#110 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

94. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Literature

#111 in North America

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

95. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Literature

#113 in North America

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

96. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Literature

#114 in North America

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,877
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

97. CUNY Graduate School and University Center

New York State | New York City

For Literature

#115 in North America

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Enrollment: 9,116
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1961

98. Loyola University Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Literature

#117 in North America

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,592

99. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Literature

#118 in North America

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

100. California University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | California

For Literature

#119 in North America

#287 in the World

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

The best cities to study Literature in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Stanford, Berkeley, Ithaca, and Cambridge.