2027 Best Value Linguistics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Linguistics](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/linguistics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value linguistics schools.
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2027 Best Value Linguistics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the linguistics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Linguistics Schools
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 best value for linguistics in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,124 to complete the linguistics program here. Linguistics graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $27,699 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Students looking for strong value in linguistics will find it at Wayne State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Students borrow a median of $25,924 to complete the linguistics program here. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $20,939. Set against $25,924 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #3 place for linguistics. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $25,921. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in linguistics, landing the #4 spot this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the linguistics program here. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $63,111. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics schools. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $24,500. Linguistics graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $25,921 early in their careers. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago came in at #6 for value in linguistics this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $81,002. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $25,479. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $34,935. Set against $25,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics schools. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $18,635. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,123. That is a strong return on a $18,635 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in linguistics this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $20,096 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics 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.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #10 position for value in linguistics this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the linguistics program here. Linguistics graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University landed the #11 spot for linguistics value this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $24,915 to complete the linguistics program here. Linguistics graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $54,166 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,915 median debt. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Benedictine University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics schools. Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,648. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $25,338 in student loans. Linguistics graduates of Benedictine University earn a median of $54,212 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,338 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Cedarville University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics schools. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. In-state tuition and fees average $37,150. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $22,110 in student loans. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $57,104. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University earned the #14 position for value in linguistics this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
