2027 Best Value Modern Languages Schools in the Southwest Region

[Modern Languages](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/modern-languages/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong modern languages education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for modern languages students.
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2027 Best Value Modern Languages Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the modern languages degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Modern Languages Schools
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #1 spot for value among modern languages schools in the Southwest Region. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the modern languages program here. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $34,751. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Houston Community College one of the best values for modern languages. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for modern languages graduates is $19,223. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $40,365. Set against $19,223 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes New Mexico State University Main Campus one of the best values for modern languages. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,125 to complete the modern languages program here. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $27,720. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
Blinn College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value modern languages schools. Blinn College is a very large public school located in the town of Brenham. In-state tuition and fees average $4,890, while out-of-state students pay about $11,370. Typical student debt for modern languages graduates is $16,465. Modern Languages graduates of Blinn College earn a median of $43,408 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned it the #5 place for modern languages. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for modern languages graduates is $29,250. Soon after graduation, modern languages degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $49,955. Set against $29,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
The University Of Texas At Arlington placed #6 among the best values for modern languages. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,950, compared with $29,582 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for modern languages graduates is $16,833. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $30,895. Set against $16,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Arizona University placed #7 among the best values for modern languages. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for modern languages graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, modern languages degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $38,177. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #8 spot for modern languages value this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Modern Languages graduates carry a median of $19,738 in student loans. Soon after graduation, modern languages degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $27,366. That is a strong return on a $19,738 median debt. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
Texas Tech University earned the #9 position for value in modern languages this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete the modern languages program here. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $50,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.