2026 Best Literature Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Literature doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 120 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Literature Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
New York University tops our 2026 ranking of the best Literature doctoral degree schools in the United States. New York University is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete their Literature program here. More on New York University
A rank of #2 makes Pace University New York one of the top choices in the United States. Get the full Pace University New York report
Out of the 120 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Marymount Manhattan College landed the #3 spot. Read the full report on Marymount Manhattan College
The strong Literature programs at Phoenix College earned it the #4 place in the United States. Get the full Phoenix College report
Out of the 120 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, East Carolina University landed the #5 spot. See the full East Carolina University profile
Oklahoma State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #6 position. Read more about Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Literature schools. Read the full report on Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Capital Community College placed #8 among Literature schools in the United States. Get the full Capital Community College report
Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #9 among Literature schools in the United States. See the full Glendale Community College Glendale Az profile
Northern Arizona University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Literature schools. Get the full Northern Arizona University report
Carroll College
Carroll College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Get the full Carroll College report
Bard College At Simons Rock came in at #12 in this year's ranking. See the full Bard College At Simons Rock profile
University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg
Antioch College
Antioch College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Antioch College
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus did well this year, earning the #15 position. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
York College Pennsylvania ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Literature schools. Get the full York College Pennsylvania report
Swarthmore College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Get the full Swarthmore College report
Lindenwood University landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Lindenwood University
Minnesota State University Mankato did well this year, earning the #19 position. Read more about Minnesota State University Mankato
New Mexico State University Dona Ana landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. See the full New Mexico State University Dona Ana profile
Florida Southern College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. See the full Florida Southern College profile
Duke University
Duke University landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Duke University report
American University placed #23 among Literature schools in the United States. Read more about American University
Boise State University landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Boise State University
Old Dominion University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Literature schools. See the full Old Dominion University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Literature Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Calvin College
Calvin College did well this year, earning the #26 position. Read more about Calvin College
Excelsior College placed #27 among Literature schools in the United States. Read more about Excelsior College
Lubbock Christian University placed #28 among Literature schools in the United States. See the full Lubbock Christian University profile
Hamilton College
Hamilton College placed #29 among Literature schools in the United States. Read more about Hamilton College
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Literature schools. Get the full University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus report
The New School
The New School ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Literature schools. Read more about The New School
Piedmont College
Piedmont College placed #32 among Literature schools in the United States. Read more about Piedmont College
Grove City College came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Get the full Grove City College report
Grand Canyon University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Literature schools. Get the full Grand Canyon University report
Harvard University landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. See the full Harvard University profile
Erie Community College placed #36 among Literature schools in the United States. Get the full Erie Community College report
Indiana University Southeast did well this year, earning the #37 position. Get the full Indiana University Southeast report
Michigan State University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Literature schools. Read the full report on Michigan State University
Pennsylvania Western University did well this year, earning the #39 position. More on Pennsylvania Western University
Allegheny College landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. More on Allegheny College
Indiana University Kokomo came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Get the full Indiana University Kokomo report
George Washington University did well this year, earning the #42 position. Read more about George Washington University
University Of California San Diego placed #43 among Literature schools in the United States. More on University Of California San Diego
Cornell College
Cornell College landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Cornell College
Gannon University landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Gannon University
George Fox University ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Literature schools. See the full George Fox University profile
Mesa Community College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Literature schools. See the full Mesa Community College profile
Queens University Of Charlotte did well this year, earning the #48 position. Read the full report on Queens University Of Charlotte
Suny Westchester Community College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Literature schools. Get the full Suny Westchester Community College report
Tyler Junior College did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on Tyler Junior College
Related Literature Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Literature Schools (All Levels)
- Best Literature Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Literature Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Literature Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Literature Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Literature Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Literature Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 120 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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