by our College Data Analytics Team
[Foreign Languages & Linguistics](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for foreign languages & linguistics students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in foreign languages & linguistics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Pima Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools in Arizona. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $10,655. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $40,977. That is a strong return on a $10,655 median debt.
Mesa Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $54,730. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Arizona University earned it the #3 place for foreign languages & linguistics. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,154 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $36,056 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arizona State University earned it the #4 place for foreign languages & linguistics. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $20,677. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $42,436 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Arizona is a great value for students pursuing a degree in foreign languages & linguistics, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $16,725 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $34,484 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.