2026 Best Germanic Languages Literature Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Germanic Languages Literature doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 329 colleges 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 Germanic Languages Literature Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Duke University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Durham, NC. Duke University posts a six-year graduation rate of 97%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,758. Graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. See the full Duke University profile
You'll be in good company at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #2 this year. Based in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Typical Germanic Languages Literature student debt is $23,258. Read more about Columbia University In The City Of New York
The strong Germanic Languages Literature programs at Georgetown University earned it the #3 place in the United States. Located in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,089. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete their Germanic Languages Literature program here. See the full Georgetown University profile
You'll be in good company at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,498. Vanderbilt University Germanic Languages Literature students take on a median of $13,975 in debt. More on Vanderbilt University
The strong Germanic Languages Literature programs at University Of California Berkeley earned it the #5 place in the United States. This public school is set in Berkeley, CA. About 93% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical Germanic Languages Literature student debt is $14,238. More on University Of California Berkeley
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Located in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin posts a six-year graduation rate of 89%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. The University Of Texas At Austin Germanic Languages Literature students take on a median of $21,275 in debt. More on The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Chapel Hill, NC, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Typical Germanic Languages Literature student debt is $15,117. Read the full report on University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #9 among Germanic Languages Literature schools in the United States. Set in Seattle, WA, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. The median Germanic Languages Literature program debt is $16,481. Get the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus report
Michigan State University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. Michigan State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 81%. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Read more about Michigan State University
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Germanic Languages Literature schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school based in Columbus, OH. Ohio State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 88%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical Germanic Languages Literature student debt is $22,053. Read the full report on Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Maryland College Park placed #12 among Germanic Languages Literature schools in the United States. Set in College Park, MD, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. The median Germanic Languages Literature program debt is $20,836. More on University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Chicago landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Located in Chicago, IL, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Chicago posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. In-state tuition and fees run about $69,324. Graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Get the full University Of Chicago report
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Amherst, MA. About 83% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #16 in this year's ranking. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school based in Ann Arbor, MI. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Students borrow a median of $18,602 to complete their Germanic Languages Literature program here. Read the full report on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Georgia came in at #15 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Georgia profile
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Bowdoin College
California State University Long Beach placed #17 among Germanic Languages Literature schools in the United States. Read the full report on California State University Long Beach
Kenyon College
Kenyon College landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Kenyon College
Suny College At Oswego did well this year, earning the #19 position. More on Suny College At Oswego
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Wisconsin La Crosse report
Wright State University Main Campus landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Wright State University Main Campus report
Boston College
Boston College did well this year, earning the #22 position. See the full Boston College profile
University At Buffalo ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Germanic Languages Literature schools. See the full University At Buffalo profile
Baylor University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Germanic Languages Literature schools. See the full Baylor University profile
Bucknell University did well this year, earning the #25 position. More on Bucknell University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Germanic Languages Literature Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Loyola University Baltimore landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Loyola University Baltimore report
Denison University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Germanic Languages Literature schools. More on Denison University
Reed College
Reed College came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Reed College
Barnard College
Barnard College did well this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full Barnard College report
Pasadena City College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Germanic Languages Literature schools. Read more about Pasadena City College
Rowan University
Rowan University came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Get the full Rowan University report
University Of North Dakota came in at #32 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of North Dakota profile
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Humboldt State University placed #34 among Germanic Languages Literature schools in the United States. Read more about Humboldt State University
Pacific Lutheran University ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Germanic Languages Literature schools. See the full Pacific Lutheran University profile
Virginia Wesleyan College did well this year, earning the #36 position. Get the full Virginia Wesleyan College report
Eastern Michigan University placed #37 among Germanic Languages Literature schools in the United States. Get the full Eastern Michigan University report
Grand Valley State University placed #38 among Germanic Languages Literature schools in the United States. More on Grand Valley State University
Dordt College
Dordt College came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Get the full Dordt College report
Hampden Sydney College placed #40 among Germanic Languages Literature schools in the United States. Read more about Hampden Sydney College
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #41 position. More on Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary
Lehigh University ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Germanic Languages Literature schools. See the full Lehigh University profile
Saint Ambrose University came in at #43 in this year's ranking. See the full Saint Ambrose University profile
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #44 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Mississippi Main Campus
Wabash College
Wabash College did well this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about Wabash College
Cuny City College placed #46 among Germanic Languages Literature schools in the United States. Read more about Cuny City College
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst College did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Elmhurst College
Heidelberg University came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Get the full Heidelberg University report
Lenoir Rhyne University placed #49 among Germanic Languages Literature schools in the United States. Read the full report on Lenoir Rhyne University
St Olaf College
St Olaf College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Germanic Languages Literature schools. More on St Olaf College
Related Germanic Languages Literature Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Germanic Languages Literature Schools (All Levels)
- Best Germanic Languages Literature Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Germanic Languages Literature Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Germanic Languages Literature Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Germanic Languages Literature Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Germanic Languages Literature Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Germanic Languages Literature Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 329 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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