2026 Best Value Literature Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Literature master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 120 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Literature Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Our analysis found Cuny Graduate School And University Center to be the best-value Literature school in the United States. Set in New York, NY, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,235, while out-of-state students pay about $15,185. Graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans. Cuny Graduate School And University Center alumni report median earnings of $65,991 a decade after entry. Set against $17,921 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted. See the full Cuny Graduate School And University Center profile
A rank of #2 makes Central Michigan University one of the best values in the United States. Central Michigan University is a public school based in Mount Pleasant, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Typical Literature student debt is $27,857. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $55,874. Set against $27,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%. Get the full Central Michigan University report
Out of the 120 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, American University landed the #3 spot. Set in Washington, DC, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Typical Literature student debt is $26,105. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $77,370. That is a strong return on a $26,105 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%. Read more about American University
Cuny Hunter College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Literature ranking in the United States. Set in New York, NY, Cuny Hunter College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Cuny Hunter College Literature students take on a median of $11,091 in debt. Median earnings reach $63,163 ten years out. Set against $11,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 54%. See the full Cuny Hunter College profile
A rank of #5 makes New York University one of the best values in the United States. New York University is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. New York University Literature students take on a median of $21,897 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $82,509. That is a strong return on a $21,897 median debt. About 9% of those who apply are admitted. More on New York University
George Mason University offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Fairfax, VA, George Mason University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $76,343. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%. See the full George Mason University profile
Eastern Michigan University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Literature schools. Based in Ypsilanti, MI, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Students borrow a median of $28,781 to complete their Literature program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,793. Set against $28,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%. Read the full report on Eastern Michigan University
Andrew College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Andrew College
University Of California San Diego ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Literature schools. Read the full report on University Of California San Diego
Gannon University offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Read the full report on Gannon University
Yeshiva University landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Yeshiva University
Arcadia University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Literature schools. Read the full report on Arcadia University
Dakota Wesleyan University offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Read the full report on Dakota Wesleyan University
Mississippi College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Mississippi College report
Oral Roberts University offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Read more about Oral Roberts University
Florida Southern College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read more about Florida Southern College
Excelsior College placed #17 among the best-value Literature schools in the United States. See the full Excelsior College profile
Paradise Valley Community College landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Paradise Valley Community College profile
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. See the full Saint Marys University Of Minnesota profile
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus report
La Salle University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full La Salle University profile
Grand Canyon University offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Grand Canyon University report
Hofstra University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Literature schools. More on Hofstra University
University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown
Calvin College
Calvin College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Literature schools. See the full Calvin College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Literature Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Boise State University landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Boise State University
Lindenwood University placed #27 among the best-value Literature schools in the United States. Get the full Lindenwood University report
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Literature schools. See the full University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus profile
Youngstown State University offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full Youngstown State University report
Center For Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico And The Caribbean came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Center For Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico And The Caribbean report
Johnson University offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on Johnson University
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Literature schools. Read the full report on Minnesota State University Mankato
Carroll College
Carroll College placed #33 among the best-value Literature schools in the United States. See the full Carroll College profile
Phoenix College
Phoenix College placed #34 among the best-value Literature schools in the United States. Read more about Phoenix College
George Washington University landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full George Washington University report
Judson University came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Judson University report
Bard College At Simons Rock landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Bard College At Simons Rock
Duke University
Duke University offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. More on Duke University
Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School Of Theology came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School Of Theology
Sewanee The University Of The South offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. See the full Sewanee The University Of The South profile
Capital Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Capital Community College
Piedmont College
Piedmont College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Literature schools. Read more about Piedmont College
Old Dominion University came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. More on Old Dominion University
Dordt College
Dordt College landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Dordt College profile
Simmons College
Simmons College landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Simmons College profile
University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg placed #46 among the best-value Literature schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg
East Carolina University ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Literature schools. More on East Carolina University
Ave Maria University placed #48 among the best-value Literature schools in the United States. Read more about Ave Maria University
Indiana University South Bend placed #49 among the best-value Literature schools in the United States. Read more about Indiana University South Bend
University Of California Los Angeles placed #50 among the best-value Literature schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of California Los Angeles
Related Literature Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Literature Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Literature Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Literature Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Literature Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Literature Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Literature Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Literature Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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