2027 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Linguistics & Comparative Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong linguistics & comparative literature education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 32 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for linguistics & comparative literature students.
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2027 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in linguistics & comparative literature, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools
For return on investment in linguistics & comparative literature, no school beat Princeton University this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $10,888. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. 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. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $51,372 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice one of the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $15,420. Students borrow a median of $12,678 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $43,545. That is a strong return on a $12,678 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $57,901. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in linguistics & comparative literature will find it at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,170, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $8,794 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College generally make around $30,111. That is a strong return on a $8,794 median debt.
University Of Delaware ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. Students from in state pay about $16,810 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $54,155. That is a strong return on a $24,861 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Albany ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,601, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $44,736. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $18,500. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $23,742. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Montclair State University landed the #9 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. Students from in state pay about $15,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $23,754. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Montclair State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Delaware State University earned the #10 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Dover, Delaware State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,670, compared with $20,634 for out-of-state students. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $26,333 in student loans. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Delaware State University earn a median of $41,572 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,333 median debt. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania came in at #11 for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,046 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,870. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $29,821. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania admits about 93% of applicants.
Stony Brook University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $19,001 in student loans. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $24,407 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,001 median debt. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #13 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania landed the #14 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Set in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,568 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,676. Students borrow a median of $26,330 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $44,294 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,330 median debt. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania admits about 72% of applicants.
University At Buffalo ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Students borrow a median of $19,125 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $26,703 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Suny At Binghamton landed the #16 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,567, while out-of-state students pay about $30,447. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $22,250. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $26,353. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Swarthmore College came in at #17 for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,494. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Swarthmore College earn a median of $66,971 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 8%.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned the #18 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,775, with out-of-state students paying around $22,599. Median earnings reach $61,258 ten years out. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania admits about 78% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #19 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Students borrow a median of $24,249 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $16,796 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,249 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $15,500. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $75,976. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #21 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $99,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Barnard College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $69,888. Students borrow a median of $17,609 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $50,790. Set against $17,609 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Temple University came in at #23 for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $54,642. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Rochester landed the #24 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,080 in tuition and fees. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $60,865. That is a strong return on a $21,517 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #25 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Students borrow a median of $23,577 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $37,208. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Rest of the Top 32 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in linguistics & comparative literature:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 32 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.