2026 Best Value Linguistics Schools in California
[Linguistics](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/linguistics/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for linguistics students.
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2026 Best Value Linguistics Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in linguistics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Linguistics Schools
Pasadena City College earned the #1 spot for value among linguistics schools in California. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Linguistics graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Fullerton came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics schools. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $15,833. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $22,723. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in linguistics will find it at Long Beach City College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,556, compared with $12,544 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $6,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,870. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in linguistics will find it at California State University Fresno, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,341, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $15,598. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. Set against $15,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
A rank of #5 makes California State University Northridge one of the best values for linguistics. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $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 Long Beach ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Students borrow a median of $12,580 to complete the linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $18,393. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
Stanford University placed #7 among the best values for linguistics. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the linguistics program here. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $100,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
San Jose State University landed the #8 spot for linguistics value this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entry. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of California Riverside came in at #9 for value in linguistics 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, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $17,283 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $20,212. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #10 spot for linguistics value this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,444, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $14,100 in student loans. Linguistics graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $27,629 early in their careers. Set against $14,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Santa Barbara admits about 33% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #11 spot for linguistics value this year. 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. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $30,524. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #12 position for value in linguistics this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $25,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis came in at #13 for value in linguistics this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Students borrow a median of $16,079 to complete the linguistics program here. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $22,965. Set against $16,079 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
San Diego State University came in at #14 for value in linguistics this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $8,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,328. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $11,000. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $22,001. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. San Diego State University admits about 36% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics schools. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,035, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $17,491 in student loans. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $21,793. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Santa Cruz admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of Southern California earned the #16 position for value in linguistics this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
More Linguistics Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
