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Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California

194 Colleges
$29,193 Avg Salary
$19,935 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best English Language & Literature School for You

In 2020-2021, 7,609 degrees and certificates were awarded to English language and literature students who went to a California college or university. This makes it the #19 most popular major in the state.

There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 194 schools in California to see which programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the English Language & Literature program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for English language and literature majors pursuing a .

Our analysis found University of California - Los Angeles to be the most popular school for English language and literature students who want to pursue a degree in California. UCLA is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles.

While working on their degree, English language and literature majors at UCLA accumulate an average of around $15,000 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $195.

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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of California - Berkeley is a great place for English language and literature students. UC Berkeley is a fairly large public school located in the city of Berkeley.

On average, English language and literature graduates from UC Berkeley take out $14,029 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $260, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at University of California - Berkeley

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California list. CSULB is a fairly large public school located in the city of Long Beach.

While working on their degree, English language and literature majors at CSULB accumulate an average of around $15,695 in student debt.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at California State University - Long Beach

The excellent programs at University of California - Riverside helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best English language and literature schools in California. UCR is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside.

While working on their degree, English language and literature majors at UCR accumulate an average of around $19,227 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $156, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full English Language & Literature at University of California - Riverside Report

#5

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

The excellent programs at San Francisco State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best English language and literature schools in California. Located in the large city of San Francisco, SFSU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

English Language & Literature majors at SFSU take out an average of $15,375 in student loans while working on their egree.

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University of California - Davis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for English language and literature students. It came in at #6 on the list. UC Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis.

After completing their degree, English language and literature graduates from UC Davis carry an average student debt load of $13,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $188.

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California State University - Northridge ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California list. Located in the city of Northridge, CSUN is a public school with a very large student population.

English Language & Literature majors at CSUN take out an average of $15,648 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full English Language & Literature at California State University - Northridge Report

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for English language and literature students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sac State is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, English language and literature graduates from Sac State carry an average student debt load of $16,189.

Full English Language & Literature at California State University - Sacramento Report

California State University - Fullerton came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California ranking. Cal State Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton.

English Language & Literature majors at Cal State Fullerton take out an average of $13,846 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full English Language & Literature at California State University - Fullerton Report

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular English language and literature programs. UCSB is a very large public school located in the midsize suburb of Santa Barbara.

English Language & Literature majors at UCSB take out an average of $18,200 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $277, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at University of California - Santa Barbara

University of California - Irvine came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California ranking. UC Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine.

The average amount in student loans that English language and literature majors at UC Irvine take out is $16,666. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $214, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at University of California - Irvine

California State University - San Bernardino ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California list. Located in the medium-sized city of San Bernardino, CSUSB is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, English language and literature graduates from CSUSB carry an average student debt load of $17,675.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at California State University - San Bernardino

#13

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

With a ranking of #13, San Diego State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for English language and literature students. Located in the city of San Diego, SDSU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

English Language & Literature majors at SDSU take out an average of $15,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full English Language & Literature at San Diego State University Report

#14

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California ranking. San Jose State is a fairly large public school located in the city of San Jose.

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California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California ranking. Located in the large suburb of Pomona, Cal Poly Pomona is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that English language and literature majors at Cal Poly Pomona take out is $15,000.

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University of California - San Diego came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, English language and literature majors at UCSD accumulate an average of around $17,566 in student debt.

Full English Language & Literature at University of California - San Diego Report

#17

Chapman University

Orange, CA

Chapman University ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California list. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.

While working on their degree, English language and literature majors at Chapman accumulate an average of around $21,776 in student debt.

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California State University - Los Angeles ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California list. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, English language and literature majors at Cal State LA accumulate an average of around $13,942 in student debt.

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#19

Citrus College

Glendora, CA

Citrus College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for English language and literature students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Full English Language & Literature at Citrus College Report

California State University - Fresno did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for English language and literature students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno State is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, English language and literature graduates from Fresno State carry an average student debt load of $17,231.

Full English Language & Literature at California State University - Fresno Report

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California ranking. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a fairly large public school located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo.

While working on their degree, English language and literature majors at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo accumulate an average of around $19,000 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $246, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full English Language & Literature at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Report

#22

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA

Sonoma State University ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California list. SSU is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park.

On average, English language and literature graduates from SSU take out $17,728 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full English Language & Literature at Sonoma State University Report

#22

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for English language and literature students. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

On average, English language and literature graduates from Loyola Marymount take out $22,666 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $897.

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#22

National University

La Jolla, CA

With a ranking of #22, National University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for English language and literature students. Located in the city of La Jolla, National University is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

The average amount in student loans that English language and literature majors at National University take out is $28,180.

Read full report on English Language & Literature at National University

California State University - Stanislaus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California ranking. Stan State is a large public school located in the small suburb of Turlock.

After completing their degree, English language and literature graduates from Stan State carry an average student debt load of $14,925.

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Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for English Language & Literature students in the state of California that almost earned our Most Popular English Language & Literature Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
31 California State University - East Bay Hayward, CA
32 Pasadena City College Pasadena, CA
33 Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA
34 Stanford University Stanford, CA
34 El Camino College Torrance, CA
36 Fullerton College Fullerton, CA
36 The University of Arizona Global Campus San Diego, CA
38 Laney College Oakland, CA

Best English Language & Literature Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular English Language & Literature Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 896
Oregon 524
Hawaii 111
Nevada 290
Alaska 52

English Language & Literature Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
General English Literature 40,481
Writing Studies 12,529
English Literature (Other) 942
Literature 683

Related Major Annual Graduates
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 556,813
Visual & Performing Arts 149,215
Foreign Languages & Linguistics 33,333
Theology & Religious Vocations 27,459
Philosophy & Religious Studies 19,993

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Mike Hazard.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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