2027 Best Value Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Foreign Languages & Linguistics](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong foreign languages & linguistics education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 48 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools.
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2027 Best Value Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in foreign languages & linguistics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools
Moraine Valley Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bay Mills Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the rural area of Brimley, Bay Mills Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,480 in tuition and fees. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $30,048.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Chicago earned it the #4 place for foreign languages & linguistics. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $17,559. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earned it the #5 place for foreign languages & linguistics. Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $5,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $17,730. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Set against $17,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sinclair Community College placed #6 among the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $35,348 early in their careers. Set against $12,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #7 position for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $17,496. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $27,978. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Southwestern Illinois College placed #8 among the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Students borrow a median of $10,388 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $44,345. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $19,844. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $63,111. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Indiana State University earned the #10 position for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Students borrow a median of $25,582 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $53,952. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Chicago ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Andrews University earned the #12 position for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the town of Berrien Springs, Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,056. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $62,634. Set against $26,314 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern Indiana landed the #13 spot for foreign languages & linguistics value this year. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,066, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $21,999 in student loans. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $47,216 early in their careers. Set against $21,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Vincennes University came in at #14 for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,858. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $14,506 in student loans. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $45,976. Set against $14,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Illinois University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $40,586. Set against $21,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #16 position for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,092 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $34,645. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #17 for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,532 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $26,584. That is a strong return on a $24,619 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #18 position for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $49,045. Set against $25,347 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Wayne State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $25,859. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $20,939. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $38,325 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $24,500. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $25,921. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #22 spot for foreign languages & linguistics value this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,642, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $23,524. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $41,109 early in their careers. Set against $23,524 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #23 position for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $17,465. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $31,846. Set against $17,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #24 for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $20,250. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $35,720. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University came in at #25 for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $28,740. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $31,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 48 Best Value Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in foreign languages & linguistics:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 48 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 48 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.
