by our College Data Analytics Team
[Linguistics Comparative Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a linguistics comparative literature degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the early-career earnings of their linguistics comparative literature graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send linguistics comparative literature graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked University Of Washington Seattle Campus the top school for linguistics comparative literature graduate earnings in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Linguistics Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of about $54,648 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #2 place for linguistics comparative literature. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Early-career linguistics comparative literature graduates from University Of California Los Angeles make a median of around $72,162 per year.
Ashford University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in linguistics comparative literature, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a private for-profit institution. Linguistics Comparative Literature graduates of Ashford University earn a median of about $41,222 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Berkeley produces some of the highest-paid graduates in linguistics comparative literature, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Linguistics Comparative Literature graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $59,312 a year early in their careers.
Portland State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in linguistics comparative literature, landing the #5 spot this year. Portland State University is a public school located in the city of Portland. Linguistics Comparative Literature graduates of Portland State University earn a median of about $38,552 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying linguistics comparative literature schools. University Of California Santa Barbara is a public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. After graduating, linguistics comparative literature degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara typically earn about $52,393 annually.
California State University Northridge landed the #7 spot for linguistics comparative literature salaries this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a public institution. After graduating, linguistics comparative literature degree recipients from California State University Northridge typically earn about $51,950 annually.
University Of Oregon earned the #8 position for linguistics comparative literature graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a public institution. Linguistics Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of about $45,321 a year early in their careers.
California State University Fullerton placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for linguistics comparative literature. California State University Fullerton is a public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. After graduating, linguistics comparative literature degree recipients from California State University Fullerton typically earn about $43,659 annually.
Western Washington University came in at #10 for linguistics comparative literature graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a public institution. After graduating, linguistics comparative literature degree recipients from Western Washington University typically earn about $41,342 annually.
University Of California Davis landed the #11 spot for linguistics comparative literature salaries this year. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. Early-career linguistics comparative literature graduates from University Of California Davis make a median of around $41,582 per year.
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #12 spot for linguistics comparative literature salaries this year. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. Linguistics Comparative Literature graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $41,829 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Riverside placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for linguistics comparative literature. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a public institution. Early-career linguistics comparative literature graduates from University Of California Riverside make a median of around $40,306 per year.
California State University Long Beach ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying linguistics comparative literature schools. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. Students who complete the linguistics comparative literature program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,052.
Reed College came in at #15 for linguistics comparative literature graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Portland, Reed College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the linguistics comparative literature program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,561.
San Diego State University earned the #16 position for linguistics comparative literature graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. After graduating, linguistics comparative literature degree recipients from San Diego State University typically earn about $22,001 annually.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries linguistics comparative literature graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 16 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.