Top English Colleges

As an English major, you’ll learn how to analyze classic and contemporary literature, sharpening your writing, speaking, and critical-thinking skills along the way. English majors can choose from among a host of specialty areas. For example, Penn State University offers concentrations in: Creative Writing, Rhetoric and Writing, Professional and Media Writing, and Literary and Cultural Studies. Emory University offers English majors the opportunity to pick a historical, thematic, geographical, or genre-specific concentration that aligns with any of their upper-level courses.

Earning a degree in English will prepare students for careers in a wide array of careers including law (with further study), technical writing, teaching at the secondary level, public relations, advertising, government, journalism, publishing, and business, as well as a number of other diverse vocational tracks.

What do you need to make it in an English program?

English majors need to possess strong research, writing, and analytical abilities. The ability to read large quantities of complex text and organize, compose, and orally communicate your thoughts will be developed over the course of your academic program.

Your English College Checklist:

• Do they offer my particular concentration area of interest with the English department?
• Are there a plethora of upper-level course offerings that match my interests or is the selection more narrow?
• How many students are in each class?
• Is a senior thesis/research project required?
• For those who wish to enter academia, how do graduate programs in English view your prospective undergraduate institutions?
• For those planning on pursuing further education in a competitive field like law or medicine, how do top graduate schools in those areas view my prospective schools?

The Top English Colleges & Universities

While English is a major that can lead to a myriad of employment opportunities, those that wish to stay within academia will find a highly competitive environment. Schools that are held in particularly high regard by professionals, employers and students include Brown, Kenyon College, Williams College, and the College of the Holy Cross. For a complete list of College Transitions Top English Colleges and Universities, click here.

*College lists are compiled on the basis of counselor interviews, guide books, exhaustive internet searches (of college and departmental websites), and data provided by The College Board and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).