2027 Best Value Comparative Literature Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Comparative Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/comparative-literature/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 56 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for comparative literature students.
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2027 Best Value Comparative Literature Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in comparative literature, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Comparative Literature Schools
Leading the list is Princeton University, our #1 best value for comparative literature in the United States. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the comparative literature program here. Early-career comparative literature graduates make about $67,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #2 place for comparative literature. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career comparative literature graduates make about $30,524. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
Stanford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in comparative literature, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $10,492. Early-career comparative literature graduates make about $100,827. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in comparative literature will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $15,124 in student loans. Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $27,699 early in their careers. Set against $15,124 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in comparative literature will find it at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $25,059. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fullerton placed #6 among the best values for comparative literature. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Students borrow a median of $15,833 to complete the comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $22,723. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for comparative literature value this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $19,844. Comparative Literature graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Chicago ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value comparative literature schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $15,854. Early-career comparative literature graduates make about $81,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
California State University Long Beach landed the #9 spot for comparative literature value this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $12,580 in student loans. Early-career comparative literature graduates make about $18,393. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine landed the #10 spot for comparative literature value this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $50,958. Set against $16,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #11 for value in comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Early-career comparative literature graduates make about $65,681. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #12 spot for comparative literature value this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of California Davis ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value comparative literature schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $16,079 in student loans. Early-career comparative literature graduates make about $22,965. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras earned the #14 position for value in comparative literature this year. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public school located in the city of San Juan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,324. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras generally make around $9,605. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
University Of Georgia earned the #15 position for value in comparative literature this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $22,420 in student loans. Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $17,864 early in their careers. Set against $22,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside landed the #16 spot for comparative literature value this year. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $17,283 in student loans. Comparative Literature graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $20,212 early in their careers. Set against $17,283 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland College Park placed #17 among the best values for comparative literature. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete the comparative literature program here. Early-career comparative literature graduates make about $57,901. That is a strong return on a $20,836 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #18 spot for comparative literature value this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $11,621. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $34,279. That is a strong return on a $11,621 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #19 position for value in comparative literature this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,444 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $14,100 in student loans. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $27,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 33%.
San Diego State University came in at #20 for value in comparative literature this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,728, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $11,000. Comparative Literature graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $22,001 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt. San Diego State University admits about 36% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #21 spot for comparative literature value this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $20,096. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $27,788. Set against $20,096 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Williams College landed the #22 spot for comparative literature value this year. Located in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,560. Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $12,615 in student loans. Comparative Literature graduates of Williams College earn a median of $53,652 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #23 for value in comparative literature this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $18,706. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $28,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value comparative literature schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $18,635. Soon after graduation, comparative literature degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,123. Set against $18,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Arizona ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value comparative literature schools. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for comparative literature graduates is $21,861. Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,861 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Comparative Literature Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s comparative literature value ranking:
Other Comparative Literature Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Comparative Literature rankings across degree levels:
View All Comparative Literature Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on 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 · 56 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 56 ranked 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
