Hi! I’ve been looking at a lot of liberal arts schools and nearly all can provide English degrees. Currently, my goal is to major in English and later teach in a collegiate setting. What English programs stand out? I haven’t applied to any schools yet because I haven’t completed testing, but I’ve maintained a 4.0 so far (entering junior year). As it is now, I need the highest scholarships I can achieve. Any tips on schools with quality English programs with financial aid and/or merit scholarships?
English is one of those subjects that can be studied at a high level at pretty much every LAC in the top 100. So many English PhDs are granted every year that even relative obscure colleges will end up with an excellent English prof or two. If money is a primary concern, focus on that bc chances are that any school in the top 100 will also provide a respectable English department. It really isn’t an esoteric specialty.
Vassar, Kenyon, Amherst, Hamilton and CMC/Pitzer/Pomona represent a sampling of highly selective colleges with top literature programs and excellent financial aid. Denison would be an example of a somewhat less selective option.
For a discussion of programs at a range of schools, this article, though it relates more to writing, might be interesting for you to read through:
http://flavorwire.com/409437/the-25-most-literary-colleges-in-america
Colleges like Denison or Kenyon might be least $ if your family is fairly wealthy (both give merit and need-based aid but do not promise to meet full need), schools like Vassar or Amherst would if they are not (both have excellent need-based aid but no merit).
@sheepskin00 Thanks, that’s helpful to know. If that’s the case, does that lower chances to respectably use an English degree? I mean, I don’t want to pursue something where the supply is greater than the demand. Of course, I can really only answer that myself, but what is your opinion? Thanks a ton for your thoughts.
@merc81 and @OHMomof2 Thank you both! I have read up quite a bit in Amherst and Kenyon, I’m glad that you both mentioned those. Thanks so much!
What state are you in? Many of the flagship universities (UVA, U. Michigan, Iowa, UC Berkeley, etc.) have top notch programs in English. As others have mentioned, Kenyon, Amherst, Swarthmore, and the Claremonts are all good bets.
In general, there are far more PhD graduates than tenure-track jobs at research universities, since each faculty member at a research university can supervise dozens of graduate students to PhD completion over his/her career, but only one will be needed to replace him/her when s/he retires. Of course, there are faculty jobs at other types of colleges, but LACs are small and only need a few faculty, and many of the “economy” colleges and universities (e.g. community colleges and non-PhD-granting universities) have been moving toward hiring lots of adjuncts in order to avoid 30+ year commitments when student demand in a subject fluctuates faster than that.
Smith has a great english program and merit scholarships!