2027 Best Value Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools in Virginia

[Foreign Languages & Linguistics](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for foreign languages & linguistics students.
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2027 Best Value Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in foreign languages & linguistics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools
Leading the list is Northern Virginia Community College, our #1 best value for foreign languages & linguistics in Virginia. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,891 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $14,413. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $40,126. Set against $14,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes J Sargeant Reynolds Community College one of the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $11,718. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of $36,965 early in their careers. Set against $16,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in foreign languages & linguistics will find it at George Mason University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $21,850. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $40,105. Set against $21,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tidewater Community College earned it the #4 place for foreign languages & linguistics. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $14,001 in student loans. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of $35,627 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,001 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes College Of William And Mary one of the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $40,260 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Students borrow a median of $14,050 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $38,269. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
James Madison University landed the #7 spot for foreign languages & linguistics value this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Students borrow a median of $18,398 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $45,122 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. James Madison University admits about 72% of applicants.
Christopher Newport University placed #8 among the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. Set in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,828 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,178. Students borrow a median of $25,094 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Christopher Newport University earn a median of $41,656 early in their careers. Set against $25,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $30,635. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #10 spot for foreign languages & linguistics value this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $37,389. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Liberty University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $32,117 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.