2026 Best Linguistics & Comparative Literature Master’s Degree Schools
Linguistics & Comparative Literature is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 533 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for linguistics & comparative literature students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Linguistics & Comparative Literature in the United States
See the highest-ranked linguistics & comparative literature schools offering a master’s degree below.
Top Schools in Linguistics & Comparative Literature
Leading the list is New York University, our #1 school for linguistics & comparative literature. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. New York University awarded about 18 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $64,516 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete this degree.
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University Of Southern California came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 13 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in linguistics & comparative literature, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $30,524 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong linguistics & comparative literature program will find one at Georgetown University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $28,278 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in linguistics & comparative literature, landing the #5 spot this year. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 20 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,323.
See the full linguistics & comparative literature program report for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Yale University landed the #6 spot for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $74,578 in their early career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
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Dartmouth College came in at #7 for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $81,992 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,989.
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University Of Connecticut placed #8 among the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 16 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $58,784 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,637.
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University Of Delaware placed #9 among the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. About 13 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from University Of Delaware earn around $54,155 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,861 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $24,658 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,775 to complete this degree.
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Carnegie Mellon University earned the #11 position for linguistics & comparative literature this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 12 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
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Arizona State University earned the #12 position for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $55,876 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,842.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #13 among the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 17 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $34,099 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,250.
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Syracuse University placed #14 among the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 13 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete this degree.
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Brigham Young University Provo placed #15 among the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 31 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $34,279. Typical student debt for the program is $11,621.
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University Of Iowa placed #16 among the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $57,375 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #17 for linguistics & comparative literature this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $25,921 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Benedictine University earned the #18 position for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 25 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Benedictine University in the most recent year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from Benedictine University earn around $54,212 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,338 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center landed the #19 spot for linguistics & comparative literature this year. This large public university is located in the city of New York. There were roughly 27 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn around $72,222 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Graduate School And University Center graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans.
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Texas Tech University earned the #20 position for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Texas Tech University awarded about 19 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $50,332 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete this degree.
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University Of Utah came in at #21 for linguistics & comparative literature this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Salt Lake City. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. University Of Utah awarded about 23 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from University Of Utah earn around $30,251 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Utah graduates carry a median of $21,715 in student loans.
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Cuny Hunter College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 16 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $51,372 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,091.
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West Virginia University landed the #23 spot for linguistics & comparative literature this year. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 26 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at West Virginia University in the most recent year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from West Virginia University earn around $32,684 in the first couple years of their career. West Virginia University graduates carry a median of $20,916 in student loans.
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University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #24 for linguistics & comparative literature this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Cruz. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of California Santa Cruz awarded about 37 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $21,793. Typical student debt for the program is $17,491.
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California State University Long Beach landed the #25 spot for linguistics & comparative literature this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 33 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $18,393. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $12,580 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 42 Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s linguistics & comparative literature ranking:
Other Linguistics & Comparative Literature Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Linguistics & Comparative Literature rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 533 schools evaluated.
- 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.