Best English Language and Literature colleges in California 2026

Best English Language and Literature colleges in California for 2026

University of Southern California offers 3 English Language and Literature, General degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 52 English Language and Literature, General students graduated with students earning 34 Bachelor's degrees, 13 Doctoral degrees, and 5 Master's degrees.

Degree Programs: English, Comparative Literature

Berkeley, also known as “Cal,” is recognized for its laboratories, research, notable faculty, publications, and — get excited now — libraries. This public university boasts a student population of more than 27,000 with over a thousand student organizations (weekly reading group anyone?). And it is situated in the San Francisco Bay area, so you’ll have plenty to points of inspiration around the city. The English major sits at the top of Berkeley’s most popular majors, but the university also offers comparative literature. “Our courses in literature have many different focuses: major authors, historical periods, genres, critical theories and methods, as well as cultural and multicultural studies.” The comparative literature major requires courses in Shakespeare, literature before 1800, and literature from Chaucer through the 20th century that includes British, American, and Anglophone writing. As an English major studying literature, you can tuck yourself away in one of the large libraries that together take up 12 acres of campus — like Doe Memorial Library or Bancroft Library — and stay there for the next four years. If you do find yourself outside of the aisles of books, you may come across student activism about the latest hot social topic or a Greek organization event.

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University of California-Los Angeles offers 4 English Language and Literature, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 256 English Language and Literature, General students graduated with students earning 243 Bachelor's degrees, 9 Doctoral degrees, and 4 Master's degrees.

University of California-Santa Barbara offers 3 English Language and Literature, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2024, 136 English Language and Literature, General students graduated with students earning 127 Bachelor's degrees, 5 Doctoral degrees, and 4 Master's degrees.

University of California-Davis offers 3 English Language and Literature, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2024, 152 English Language and Literature, General students graduated with students earning 143 Bachelor's degrees, 7 Doctoral degrees, and 2 Master's degrees.

University of California-San Diego offers 2 English Language and Literature, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 29 English Language and Literature, General students graduated with students earning 29 Bachelor's degrees.

University of California-Irvine offers 3 English Language and Literature, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 163 English Language and Literature, General students graduated with students earning 149 Bachelor's degrees, 10 Master's degrees, and 4 Doctoral degrees.

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University of California-Riverside offers 3 English Language and Literature, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 122 English Language and Literature, General students graduated with students earning 106 Bachelor's degrees, 12 Doctoral degrees, and 4 Master's degrees.

Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University offers 2 English Language and Literature, General degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 48 English Language and Literature, General students graduated with students earning 36 Bachelor's degrees, and 12 Master's degrees.

Saint Mary's College of California offers 1 English Language and Literature, General degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2024, 14 English Language and Literature, General students graduated with students earning 14 Bachelor's degrees.

Find local colleges with English Language and Literature majors in California

List of all English Language and Literature colleges in California

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
University of Southern California Logo University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA
5/5
21 : 1 46,566
University of California-Berkeley Logo University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA
4/5
23 : 1 45,882
University of California-Los Angeles Logo University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
3/5
23 : 1 47,335
University of California-Santa Barbara Logo University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA
4/5
24 : 1 26,133
University of California-Davis Logo University of California-Davis Davis, CA
4/5
23 : 1 40,065