2027 Best Value Linguistics Master’s Degree Schools
[Linguistics](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/linguistics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value linguistics schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Linguistics Schools in the United States
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
For return on investment in linguistics, no school beat University Of California Los Angeles this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $30,524. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a great value for students pursuing a degree in linguistics, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $17,775. Linguistics graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $24,658 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,775 median debt. The acceptance rate is 15%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Long Beach earned it the #3 place for linguistics. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $25,921. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a great value for students pursuing a degree in linguistics, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,324. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras generally make around $9,605. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras admits about 55% of applicants.
San Diego State University earned the #6 position for value in linguistics this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,728, while out-of-state students pay about $21,328. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the linguistics program here. Linguistics graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $22,001 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Brigham Young University Provo placed #7 among the best values for linguistics. 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 linguistics graduates is $11,621. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $34,279. That is a strong return on a $11,621 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa earned the #8 position for value in linguistics this year. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public school located in the city of Honolulu. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,186, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $20,577 in student loans. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $48,181. That is a strong return on a $20,577 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
West Virginia University placed #9 among the best values for linguistics. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $20,916 in student loans. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $32,684. That is a strong return on a $20,916 median debt. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Delaware placed #10 among the best values for linguistics. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Students borrow a median of $24,861 to complete the linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $54,155. Set against $24,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Utah ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics schools. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $21,715 in student loans. Linguistics graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $30,251 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Texas Tech University landed the #12 spot for linguistics value this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $24,271. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $50,332. That is a strong return on a $24,271 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #13 for value in linguistics this year. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,235, while out-of-state students pay about $15,185. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Cuny Graduate School And University Center generally make around $72,222. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Benedictine University earned the #14 position for value in linguistics this year. Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. Students from in state pay about $32,648 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,338 to complete the linguistics program here. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $54,212. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Iowa landed the #15 spot for linguistics value this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $57,375. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Oregon placed #16 among the best values for linguistics. University Of Oregon is a very large public school located in the city of Eugene. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,320, with out-of-state students paying around $42,516. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $23,187 in student loans. Linguistics graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $23,615 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,187 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University placed #17 among the best values for linguistics. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $14,357. Linguistics graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University came in at #18 for value in linguistics this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $25,232. Linguistics graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
University Of Connecticut earned the #19 position for value in linguistics this year. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete the linguistics program here. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $58,784. That is a strong return on a $23,637 median debt. The acceptance rate is 52%.
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #20 position for value in linguistics this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Students borrow a median of $20,373 to complete the linguistics program here. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $55,861. That is a strong return on a $20,373 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Northwestern University placed #21 among the best values for linguistics. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $16,616. 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. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Dartmouth College landed the #22 spot for linguistics value this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,019. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete the linguistics program here. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $81,992. Set against $16,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Liberty University landed the #23 spot for linguistics value this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $45,877. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #24 spot for linguistics value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. Linguistics graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Early-career linguistics graduates make about $89,327. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants.
University Of Southern California landed the #25 spot for linguistics value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Typical student debt for linguistics graduates is $15,625. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Rest of the Top 29 Best Value Linguistics Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for linguistics this year:
Other Linguistics Degree Levels
Explore the best-value linguistics schools at other degree levels:
View All Linguistics Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 29 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.
