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 schools below stand out for the salaries their linguistics comparative literature graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find where linguistics comparative literature graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose linguistics comparative literature graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in linguistics comparative literature, no school beat Duke University this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the linguistics comparative literature program here go on to a median salary of roughly $94,560.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #2 place for linguistics comparative literature. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Early-career linguistics comparative literature graduates from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill make a median of around $57,670 per year.
A rank of #3 makes East Carolina University one of the highest-paying schools for linguistics comparative literature. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a public institution. Linguistics Comparative Literature graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of about $35,561 a year early in their careers.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh produces some of the highest-paid graduates in linguistics comparative literature, landing the #4 spot this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school located in the city of Raleigh. Linguistics Comparative Literature graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of about $34,099 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Durham Technical Community College earned it the #5 place for linguistics comparative literature. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a public institution. Linguistics Comparative Literature graduates of Durham Technical Community College earn a median of about $26,246 a year early in their careers.
Appalachian State University earned the #6 position for linguistics comparative literature graduate earnings this year. Appalachian State University is a public school located in the town of Boone. Students who complete the linguistics comparative literature program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,657.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #7 for linguistics comparative literature graduate earnings this year. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public school located in the city of Greensboro. Students who complete the linguistics comparative literature program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,058.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their linguistics comparative literature graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 7 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.