Linguistics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 81 schools to find the best for linguistics students.
Where you study linguistics matters for your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Linguistics rankings. For our Best Overall Linguistics School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best 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.
Stanford University tops our 2027 ranking of the best linguistics schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. Stanford University awarded about 22 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $100,827 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
More information about a degree in linguistics from Stanford University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Chicago one of the top schools for linguistics. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 16 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
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Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in linguistics, ranking #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 18 linguistics degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
More information about a degree in linguistics from Northwestern University
Yale University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best linguistics schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 linguistics degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
More information about a degree in linguistics from Yale University
Students looking for a strong linguistics program will find one at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 18 linguistics degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $63,111 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844.
Read more about the linguistics program at Purdue University Main Campus
University Of California Los Angeles placed #6 among the best linguistics schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 40 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $30,524 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
Get the full linguistics details for University Of California Los Angeles
Washington University In St Louis came in at #7 for linguistics this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 12 linguistics degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
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Cornell University came in at #8 for linguistics this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Cornell University awarded about 16 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from Cornell University earn around $75,976 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500.
Read more about the linguistics program at Cornell University
University Of Delaware ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best linguistics schools. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Delaware in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from University Of Delaware earn around $54,155 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,861.
See the full linguistics program report for University Of Delaware
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best linguistics schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 33 linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $27,699. Students borrow a median of $15,124 to complete this degree.
Get the full linguistics details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Rochester ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best linguistics schools. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 16 linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of Rochester in the most recent year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $60,865 in their early career. University Of Rochester graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans.
More information about a degree in linguistics from University Of Rochester
Georgetown University came in at #12 for linguistics this year. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 49 linguistics degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Linguistics graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $28,278 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
More information about a degree in linguistics from Georgetown University
University Of Southern California landed the #13 spot for linguistics this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $75,677 in their early career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
More information about a degree in linguistics from University Of Southern California
San Jose State University came in at #14 for linguistics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in linguistics from San Jose State University
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #15 position for linguistics this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 21 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
See the full linguistics program report for University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #16 among the best linguistics schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 11 linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $35,409 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $19,286 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #17 among the best linguistics schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 20 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $24,658 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,775.
See the full linguistics program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #18 for linguistics this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 11 linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $27,629. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $14,100 in student loans.
More information about a degree in linguistics from University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of California Berkeley ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best linguistics schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 62 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $25,059 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000.
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University Of Connecticut ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best linguistics schools. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 14 linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $58,784 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,637.
See the full linguistics program report for University Of Connecticut
Boston University earned the #21 position for linguistics this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Boston University awarded about 22 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from Boston University earn around $63,598 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232.
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The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #22 spot for linguistics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $32,185 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,892 to complete this degree.
See the full linguistics program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #23 among the best linguistics schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 21 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $59,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
Get the full linguistics details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Syracuse University came in at #24 for linguistics this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 14 linguistics degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Linguistics graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,130.
See the full linguistics program report for Syracuse University
Brigham Young University Provo placed #25 among the best linguistics schools. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Brigham Young University Provo graduates 81% of students within six years. Brigham Young University Provo awarded about 58 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Linguistics graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $34,279 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,621.
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Rest of the Top 50 Linguistics Schools
These schools also placed among the best for linguistics this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 81 schools evaluated.
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).
