[Linguistics & Comparative Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 186 schools to find the best return on investment for linguistics & comparative literature students.
Finding the Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature School for You
The right linguistics & comparative literature school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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.
Princeton University tops our 2027 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools in the United States. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Hunter College one of the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $11,091. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $51,372 early in their careers. Set against $11,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in linguistics & comparative literature will find it at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, which ranked #3. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $15,420. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $12,678 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $43,545. That is a strong return on a $12,678 median debt. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice admits about 57% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Durham Technical Community College one of the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Located in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,240, with out-of-state students paying around $7,531. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $20,408. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $26,246. Set against $20,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in linguistics & comparative literature will find it at Santa Monica College, which ranked #5. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Median earnings reach $42,193 ten years out.
University Of Florida placed #6 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $19,912. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $30,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Santa Ana College placed #7 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $11,196. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $39,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Joaquin Delta College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,772. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $6,382. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of San Joaquin Delta College earn a median of $65,168 early in their careers. Set against $6,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Golden West College came in at #9 for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,380, with out-of-state students paying around $11,628. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $82,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College came in at #10 for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $44,391. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Fullerton came in at #11 for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,833 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $22,723. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
California State University Northridge earned the #12 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $21,501. Set against $16,202 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fresno earned the #13 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,341, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $15,598 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. That is a strong return on a $15,598 median debt. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #14 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,323 median debt. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College landed the #15 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,170, while out-of-state students pay about $8,050. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $8,794. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $30,111. That is a strong return on a $8,794 median debt.
Pima Community College placed #16 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $10,655. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $40,977 early in their careers. Set against $10,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #17 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $16,500. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $28,658. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Sampson Community College earned the #18 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the town of Clinton, Sampson Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,877 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,789. Students borrow a median of $12,596 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $45,929. That is a strong return on a $12,596 median debt.
Long Beach City College placed #19 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Located in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,556, while out-of-state students pay about $12,544. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $38,870 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fullerton College placed #20 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Fullerton College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,151, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,366.
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #21 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $34,751 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moreno Valley College placed #22 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Moreno Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moreno Valley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,428, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $12,643. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Moreno Valley College generally make around $45,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #23 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $17,775 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $24,658. Set against $17,775 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 15%.
Houston Community College earned the #24 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $19,223. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $40,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #25 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $30,524. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for linguistics & comparative literature this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 186 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 186 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).
[Linguistics & Comparative Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
