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2027 Best Linguistics Schools in the Great Lakes Region

13 Colleges in the United States
283 Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$49,416 Avg Early-Career Salary

Linguistics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for linguistics students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Linguistics in the Great Lakes Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the linguistics degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Linguistics

1

University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in linguistics. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 16 linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in linguistics from University Of Chicago

2

Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in linguistics, ranking #2. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 18 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $78,551 in their early career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. See the full linguistics program report for Northwestern University

3
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

A rank of #3 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the top schools for linguistics. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844. Read more about the linguistics program at Purdue University Main Campus

4

Students looking for a strong linguistics program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 33 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $27,699 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,124. Get the full linguistics details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

5

University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in linguistics, ranking #5. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. 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. Linguistics graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree. See the full linguistics program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison

6

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #6 position for linguistics this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 27 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $25,921 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. See the full linguistics program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

7

Benedictine University placed #7 among the best linguistics schools. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Benedictine University in the most recent data year. Linguistics graduates of Benedictine University earn a median of $54,212 early in their careers. Benedictine University graduates carry a median of $25,338 in student loans. More information about a degree in linguistics from Benedictine University

8
Cedarville University crest
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH

Cedarville University earned the #8 position for linguistics this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Cedarville. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Cedarville University awarded about 15 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Linguistics graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $57,104 early in their careers. Cedarville University graduates carry a median of $22,110 in student loans. Read more about the linguistics program at Cedarville University

9

Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for linguistics this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 linguistics degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $27,788. Typical student debt for the program is $20,096. See the full linguistics program report for Ohio State University Main Campus

10
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University earned the #10 position for linguistics this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. Michigan State University awarded about 15 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $54,166. Students borrow a median of $24,915 to complete this degree. Get the full linguistics details for Michigan State University

11

Indiana University Bloomington placed #11 among the best linguistics schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $52,123 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,635. Get the full linguistics details for Indiana University Bloomington

12

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #12 for linguistics this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Southern Illinois University Carbondale awarded about 17 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $25,921 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500. See the full linguistics program report for Southern Illinois University Carbondale

13

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #13 position for linguistics this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent data year. Linguistics graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $34,935 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates carry a median of $25,479 in student loans. Read more about the linguistics program at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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