100 Best colleges for Literature in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 10.6M citations received by 610K academic papers made by 941 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

#2 in North America

#4 in the World

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

2. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Literature

#3 in North America

#5 in the World

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

3. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Literature

#4 in North America

#6 in the World

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

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Literature

#5 in North America

#8 in the World

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

5. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Literature

#6 in North America

#9 in the World

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

6. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Literature

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

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

7. University of Texas at Austin

For Literature

#8 in North America

#11 in the World

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

8. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Literature

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

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

9. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Literature

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

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

10. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Literature

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

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

11. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Literature

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

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

12. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Literature

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

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

13. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Literature

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

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

14. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Literature

#15 in North America

#18 in the World

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

15. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Literature

#16 in North America

#19 in the World

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

16. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Literature

#17 in North America

#20 in the World

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

17. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Literature

#18 in North America

#23 in the World

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

18. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Literature

#21 in North America

#27 in the World

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

19. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Literature

#22 in North America

#29 in the World

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

20. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Literature

#23 in North America

#30 in the World

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

21. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Literature

#25 in North America

#33 in the World

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

22. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Literature

#26 in North America

#35 in the World

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

23. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Literature

#27 in North America

#37 in the World

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

24. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Literature

#28 in North America

#39 in the World

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

25. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Literature

#29 in North America

#41 in the World

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

26. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Literature

#30 in North America

#42 in the World

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

27. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Literature

#31 in North America

#44 in the World

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

28. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Literature

#32 in North America

#46 in the World

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

29. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Literature

#33 in North America

#47 in the World

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

30. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Literature

#34 in North America

#49 in the World

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

31. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Literature

#35 in North America

#53 in the World

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

32. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Literature

#36 in North America

#54 in the World

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

33. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Literature

#37 in North America

#58 in the World

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

34. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Literature

#38 in North America

#61 in the World

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

35. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Literature

#39 in North America

#63 in the World

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

36. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Literature

#40 in North America

#65 in the World

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

37. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Literature

#41 in North America

#69 in the World

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

38. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Literature

#42 in North America

#74 in the World

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

39. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Literature

#43 in North America

#75 in the World

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

40. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Literature

#44 in North America

#78 in the World

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

41. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Literature

#45 in North America

#79 in the World

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

42. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Literature

#47 in North America

#83 in the World

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

43. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Literature

#48 in North America

#84 in the World

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

44. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Literature

#49 in North America

#87 in the World

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

45. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Literature

#50 in North America

#88 in the World

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

46. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Literature

#51 in North America

#89 in the World

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

47. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Literature

#53 in North America

#95 in the World

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

48. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Literature

#54 in North America

#99 in the World

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

49. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Literature

#55 in North America

#101 in the World

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

50. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Literature

#56 in North America

#102 in the World

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

51. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Literature

#57 in North America

#103 in the World

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

52. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Literature

#58 in North America

#104 in the World

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

53. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Literature

#59 in North America

#105 in the World

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

54. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Literature

#61 in North America

#108 in the World

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

55. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Literature

#63 in North America

#111 in the World

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

56. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Literature

#65 in North America

#114 in the World

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

57. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Literature

#67 in North America

#116 in the World

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

58. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Literature

#68 in North America

#117 in the World

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

59. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Literature

#69 in North America

#121 in the World

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

60. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Literature

#71 in North America

#126 in the World

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

61. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Literature

#72 in North America

#138 in the World

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

62. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Literature

#73 in North America

#139 in the World

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

63. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Literature

#74 in North America

#140 in the World

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

64. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Literature

#75 in North America

#143 in the World

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

65. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Literature

#76 in North America

#148 in the World

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

66. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Literature

#77 in North America

#150 in the World

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

67. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Literature

#79 in North America

#154 in the World

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

68. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Literature

#80 in North America

#157 in the World

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

69. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Literature

#81 in North America

#159 in the World

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

70. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Literature

#82 in North America

#160 in the World

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

71. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Literature

#84 in North America

#163 in the World

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

72. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Literature

#85 in North America

#164 in the World

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

73. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Literature

#86 in North America

#165 in the World

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

74. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Literature

#87 in North America

#175 in the World

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

75. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Literature

#88 in North America

#176 in the World

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

76. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Literature

#89 in North America

#181 in the World

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

77. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Literature

#90 in North America

#184 in the World

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

78. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Literature

#91 in North America

#186 in the World

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

79. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Literature

#92 in North America

#193 in the World

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

80. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Literature

#93 in North America

#194 in the World

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

81. California University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | California

For Literature

#95 in North America

#200 in the World

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

82. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Literature

#96 in North America

#201 in the World

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

83. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Literature

#97 in North America

#204 in the World

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

84. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Literature

#98 in North America

#209 in the World

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

85. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Literature

#99 in North America

#216 in the World

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

86. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Literature

#100 in North America

#218 in the World

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

87. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Literature

#102 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

88. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Literature

#103 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

89. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Literature

#104 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

90. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Literature

#105 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

91. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Literature

#106 in North America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

92. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Literature

#107 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

93. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Literature

#108 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

94. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Literature

#111 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

95. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Literature

#112 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $35,412

96. CUNY Graduate School and University Center

New York State | New York City

For Literature

#113 in North America

#259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Enrollment: 8,733
Male:Female: 32:68
Founded: 1961

97. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Literature

#114 in North America

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

98. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Literature

#115 in North America

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

99. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Literature

#116 in North America

#268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

100. Bowling Green State University

Ohio | Bowling Green

For Literature

#117 in North America

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1095
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

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