Top Ten Colleges in the U.S. for an English Degree
U.S. News & World Report is the leading publisher of lists ranking the best colleges and universities for specific majors. In 2010, U.S. News & World Report released its rankings of the top colleges for English major. These universities offer the best academic programs that focus on different areas of language, literature and composition.
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley's English program, specifically its English Ph.D. program, was ranked the top graduate English program in the country by U.S. News & World Report in 2010. Berkeley was founded in 1868 and its department of English offers courses in writing, language and literature. The university also has an undergraduate honors in English program.
UC Berkeley English Department
322 Wheeler Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720
510-642-3467
english.berkeley.edu
Stanford University
Stanford University, founded in 1891 in Stanford, California, is the 2nd best college to pursue an English degree at, according to the 2010 report by U.S. News & World Report. Stanford University's department of English teaches students to focus on interpretive thinking by examining dynamic literary and cultural histories, such as researching British and Anglophone literary texts.
Stanford University
Department of English
450 Serra Mall
Building 460, Room 201
Stanford, CA 94305
650-723-2635
english.stanford.edu
Yale University
Yale University, founded in 1701 in New Haven, Connecticut, is ranked No.3 among the best English schools by the U.S. News & World Report. Its department of English offers a Ph.D. in English, and teaches expository writing, film writing and more, making it one of the best creative writing programs in the country.
Yale University
Department of English
63 High Street
New Haven, CT 06520
203-432-2224
yale.edu/English
Columbia University
Columbia University's Department of English and Comparative Literature in New York is ranked No.4 among the best colleges for English degrees, according to the 2010 U.S. News & World Report. Columbia was founded in 1754. Its English program has special focuses on teaching students to appreciate the power of language and global literature.
Columbia University
Department of English
602 Philosophy Hall
1150 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10027
212-854-3215
columbia.edu/cu/english/
Harvard University
Harvard University, established in 1636 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is tied with Columbia University in 4th place on this list of best colleges for English degrees, according to the 2010 report from U.S. News & World Report. Harvard University's department of English program takes 4 to 7 years to complete because it prepares students for the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam and allows them to gain experience in the field.
Harvard University
Department of English
Barker Center
12 Quincy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-2533
english.fas.harvard.edu
University of Pennsylvania
Founded in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania is also tied in 4th place with Columbia and Harvard University on the list of the best colleges for English degrees. Its English department teaches students, among other specialties, literature, literary history and specific literary cultures.
University of Pennsylvania
Department of English
3340 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-898-7341
english.upenn.edu
Cornell University
Cornell University, founded in 1865, is the 7th best college for an English degree, according to the 2010 report by U.S. News & World Report. Cornell University's Department of English teaches expository writing, film analysis, works by Shakespeare, and much more.
Cornell University
Department of English
250 Goldwin Smith Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853-3201
607-255-6800
arts.cornell.edu/english
Princeton University
Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey is next on the list of the best colleges for an English degree. Princeton's English department focuses on different areas of literature and it also offers certificate programs in medieval studies, creative writing and more.
Princeton University
Department of English
22 McCosh Hall
Princeton, New Jersey 08544
609-258-4061
english.princeton.edu
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago, established in 1890, is No. 9 on the list of best colleges for English degrees, according to the 2010 U.S. News & World Report. Its department of English language and literature supports interdisciplinary work in race and gender studies, cultural literature and more. The university has a number of English research institutions on campus.
University of Chicago
Department of English
1115 E. 58th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
773-702-8512
english.uchicago.edu
Duke University
Duke University, which was founded in 1838, has a mission to train students in pedagogy, which is the ability of graduates to become scholars of whatever they learn at Duke. Its English department offers a host of literary courses, including cultural literature from India, Africa and more.
Duke University
English Department
314 Allen Building
Durham, NC 27708
919-684-2741
english.duke.edu
