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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Modern Languages

274 Ranked Colleges
2,871 Degrees Awarded
$29,600 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Modern Languages is the 234th most popular major in the country with 2,871 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

For this year’s “Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major” ranking, we looked at 274 colleges that offer a degree in modern languages. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in modern languages.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Modern Languages Schools

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More Modern Languages Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for modern languages students.

1
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Tech. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major list. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 96 ’s modern languages degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Modern Languages at Virginia Tech

2
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Carolina State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major list. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s modern languages degrees to 84 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Modern Languages at NC State

3

Out of the 274 schools in the Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 77 ’s modern languages degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read full report on Modern Languages at University of South Florida - Main Campus

4
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American River College
Sacramento, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American River College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major list. American River College is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 70 ’s modern languages degrees in 2020-2021.

Full American River Modern Languages Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major. San Juan, is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s modern languages degrees to 69 students in 2020-2021.

Full UPR Rio Piedras Modern Languages Report

6
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Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut, California

Mt. San Antonio College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major list. Walnut, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s modern languages degrees to 68 students in 2020-2021.

Full Mt. San Antonio College Modern Languages Report

7

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major ranking, coming in at #7. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a public institution located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 62 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Modern Languages Report

8
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major ranking, coming in at #8. JMU is a large school located in Harrisonburg, Virginia that handed out 57 ’s modern languages degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Modern Languages at JMU

9
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University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee

University of Memphis came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major ranking. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, this large public school awarded 56 diplomas to qualified ’s modern languages students in 2020-2021.

Full UofM Modern Languages Report

9
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Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major list. Located in Mississippi State, Mississippi, this large public school handed out 56 degrees to qualified ’s modern languages students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Modern Languages at Mississippi State

11

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major list. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s modern languages degrees to 54 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Modern Languages at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

12
Middle Tennessee State University crest
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Middle Tennessee State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major ranking. Located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, this large public school awarded 46 degrees to qualified ’s modern languages students in 2020-2021.

Full Middle Tennessee State University Modern Languages Report

13

New Mexico State University - Main Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major ranking. NMSU Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Las Cruces, New Mexico that handed out 44 ’s modern languages degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Modern Languages at New Mexico State University - Main Campus

13
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Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major ranking. Boca Raton, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s modern languages degrees to 44 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Modern Languages at FAU

15

Colorado State University - Fort Collins landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major ranking. This large school is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, and it awarded 42 ’s modern languages degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Modern Languages at Colorado State University - Fort Collins

16
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George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major ranking. GMU is located in Fairfax, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’s modern languages degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Modern Languages at GMU

16
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The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major ranking. The University of Alabama is a large school located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama that handed out 39 ’s modern languages degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Modern Languages at The University of Alabama

18

With a ranking of #18, University of Maryland - Baltimore County did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major list. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s modern languages degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Modern Languages at UMBC

18
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major ranking, coming in at #18. University of Florida is a large school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 38 ’s modern languages degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UF Modern Languages Report

18
Texas Tech crest
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

With a ranking of #18, Texas Tech University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major list. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s modern languages degrees to 42 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Modern Languages at Texas Tech University

21
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West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #21, West Chester University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major list. WCUPA is a fairly large public school situated in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It awarded 36 ’s modern languages degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full West Chester University of Pennsylvania Modern Languages Report

21
Fullerton College crest
Fullerton College
Fullerton, California

Fullerton College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major ranking. Fullerton College is a fairly large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 36 ’s modern languages degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Modern Languages at Fullerton College

23

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 34 ’s modern languages degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Modern Languages at Mizzou

24

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major ranking. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 33 ’s modern languages degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Modern Languages at Missouri State

24
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Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University ranked #24 on this year’s Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major list. K -State is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 ’s modern languages degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Modern Languages at Kansas State University

Rest of the Best 43 in Most Well Attended Modern Languages Major

Not only did these schools make the top 43 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
26
Blinn College crest
Blinn College
Brenham, Texas
28
29
29
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University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, Georgia
29
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Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina
32
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
33
34
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Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona
35
KSU Georgia crest
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia
35
35
Palomar College crest
Palomar College
San Marcos, California
35
35
35
35
MSU Bozeman crest
Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana
35
35
CCSU crest
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, Connecticut

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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