2027 Best Value Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools in Illinois
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for foreign languages & linguistics students.
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2027 Best Value Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the foreign languages & linguistics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among foreign languages & linguistics schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $17,559 in student loans. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Dupage earned it the #2 place for foreign languages & linguistics. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Moraine Valley Community College one of the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $11,149. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $43,844. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Southwestern Illinois College one of the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,230 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $44,345 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in foreign languages & linguistics will find it at University Of Chicago, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University placed #6 among the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $21,250. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $40,586. Set against $21,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $21,092. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $34,645. That is a strong return on a $21,092 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #8 for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. 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.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,092. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $54,302 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,917 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Illinois State University placed #10 among the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $49,448. Set against $22,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Benedictine University earned the #11 position for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,648. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $25,338 in student loans. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $54,212. That is a strong return on a $25,338 median debt. Benedictine University admits about 95% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago came in at #12 for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,088. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $28,818. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $33,775 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Northwestern University placed #13 among the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $78,551. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #14 spot for foreign languages & linguistics value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $22,698. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $58,568. Set against $22,698 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
More Foreign Languages & Linguistics Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
