2027 Best Value Linguistics Schools
[Linguistics](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/linguistics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong linguistics education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 108 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value linguistics schools.
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Finding the Best Value Linguistics School for You
Where you study linguistics affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Linguistics Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
One Size Does Not Fit All
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Linguistics Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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2027 Best Value Linguistics Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in linguistics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Linguistics Schools
Princeton University earned the #1 spot for value among linguistics schools in the United States. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $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 Florida earned it the #2 place for linguistics. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,912 to complete the linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $30,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the best values for linguistics. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Linguistics graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $30,524 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Santa Monica College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics schools. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,193 ten years after entry.
Students looking for strong value in linguistics will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the linguistics program here. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $28,658. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #6 among the best values for linguistics. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $17,775 in student loans. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $24,658. Set against $17,775 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
California State University Northridge ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics schools. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete the linguistics program here. Linguistics graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $21,501 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
California State University Fullerton came in at #8 for value in linguistics this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $15,833. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $22,723. That is a strong return on a $15,833 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fresno landed the #9 spot for linguistics value this year. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,341, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete the linguistics program here. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $49,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $15,124. Linguistics 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.
Stanford University landed the #11 spot for linguistics value this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $10,492. Linguistics graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Long Beach ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics schools. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $12,580. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $18,393. That is a strong return on a $12,580 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Long Beach City College earned the #13 position for value in linguistics this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,556, compared with $12,544 for out-of-state students. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $38,870 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Truman State University landed the #14 spot for linguistics value this year. Set in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,566. Students borrow a median of $23,168 to complete the linguistics program here. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $39,764. Set against $23,168 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Truman State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earned the #15 position for value in linguistics this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,170, while out-of-state students pay about $8,050. Students borrow a median of $8,794 to complete the linguistics program here. Linguistics graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $30,111 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,794 median debt.
San Jose State University placed #16 among the best values for linguistics. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley landed the #17 spot for linguistics value this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Linguistics graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $25,059 early in their careers. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At El Paso ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics schools. The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $16,502. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from The University Of Texas At El Paso generally make around $26,475. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #19 for value in linguistics this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics schools. Set in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,324. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $5,500. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $9,605. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of Chicago landed the #21 spot for linguistics value this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $15,854. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine placed #22 among the best values for linguistics. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans. Linguistics graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $50,958 early in their careers. Set against $16,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #23 for value in linguistics this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $16,481. Linguistics graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Portland State University placed #24 among the best values for linguistics. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $29,671 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $47,717. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Arlington came in at #25 for value in linguistics this year. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. Students from in state pay about $11,950 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $16,833. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $30,895. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Arlington admits about 80% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Linguistics Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in linguistics:
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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 · 108 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 108 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.
