2020 Best Colleges for Foreign Languages & Linguistics
Foreign Languages & Linguistics is a popular major and United States is the most popular state for students studying it. 34,883 of the 34,883 Foreign Languages & Linguistics degrees awarded last year were given by schools in United States. With so many options it can be difficult finding the best fit for you. This year's Best Colleges for Foreign Languages & Linguistics ranking analyzed 341 colleges and universities that offer a bachelor's degree in foreign languages and linguistics. We look at over 20 factors to determine the top 25 schools for Foreign Languages & Linguistics students.
Choosing a Great Foreign Languages & Linguistics School
The foreign languages and linguistics program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality foreign languages and linguistics program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
Quality Overall is Important
The overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
The lowest ranked school in our list is in the top 19% of our overall quality ranking while the vast majority are in at least the top 9%.
Graduates Earn More After College
Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates from colleges on this list tend to earn more after college than those from other schools. Recent foreign languages and linguistics graduates from U.S. colleges with a bachelors degree earned an average of $28,955 in 2017-2018.
Other Factors We Consider
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
- Major Focus - How much a school focuses on Foreign Languages & Linguistics students vs. other majors.
- Major Popularity - How many other foreign languages and linguistics students choose this school.
- Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or a recognized foreign languages and linguistics related accrediting body.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for Foreign Languages & Linguistics students.
Best Schools to Study Foreign Languages & Linguistics in United States
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for foreign languages and linguistics majors. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list. Of the 341 schools analyzed, only 25 earned the distinction of being on this list.
Top 25 Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Colleges
University of California - Berkeley is a good option for individuals interested in a Foreign Languages & Linguistics degree. UC Berkeley is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Berkeley. This school ranks 65th out of 1,727 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
With 275 undergraduates, University of California - Berkeley is one of most popular colleges to study foreign languages and linguistics in United States.
More… Request Information
It's difficult to beat University of Wisconsin - Madison if you want to pursue foreign languages and linguistics as a major. Wisconsin is a fairly large public school located in the city of Madison. This college ranks 80th out of 1,727 colleges for overall quality in the state of Wisconsin.
There are about 572 foreign languages and linguistics undergraduates enrolled in this degree at Wisconsin.
More… Request Information
Columbia University in the City of New York is among your best bets if you want to study foreign languages and linguistics. Located in the large city New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of 26 out of 1,727 schools nationwide means Columbia is a great college overall.
There are roughly 299 foreign languages and linguistics undergrads enrolled in this degree at Columbia.
More… Request Information
Brigham Young University - Provo is among your top options if you're planning on studying foreign languages and linguistics. BYU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Provo. This college ranks 102nd out of 1,727 colleges for overall quality in the state of Utah.
In addition to its bachelor's programs, BYU offers a Master's Degree in foreign languages and linguistics.
More… Request Information
Princeton is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Princeton. A Best Colleges rank of 20 out of 1,727 schools nationwide means Princeton is a great school overall.
With 130 undergrads, Princeton University is one of most popular colleges to study foreign languages and linguistics in United States.
More… Request Information
U of Michigan is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor. A Best Colleges rank of 35 out of 1,727 schools nationwide means U of Michigan is a great college overall.
For those interested in something more advanced, U of Michigan also offers 4 different higher degree levels in foreign languages and linguistics, the most popular of which is a Doctor's Degree (Research / Scholarship).
More… Request Information
Located in the large suburb Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of 13 out of 1,727 schools nationwide means Notre Dame is a great school overall.
For those interested in something more advanced, Notre Dame also offers 2 different higher degree levels in foreign languages and linguistics, the most popular of which is a Master's Degree.
More… Request Information
University of Virginia is a very large public school located in the small suburb of Charlottesville. A Best Colleges rank of 33 out of 1,727 schools nationwide means University of Virginia is a great college overall.
There are approximately 240 foreign languages and linguistics undergraduates studying this program at University of Virginia.
More… Request Information
Located in the large city Washington, Georgetown is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of 42 out of 1,727 colleges nationwide means Georgetown is a great college overall.
There are about 151 foreign languages and linguistics undergrads studying this degree at Georgetown.
More… Request Information
Ohio State is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Columbus. This college ranks 206th out of 1,727 schools for overall quality in the state of Ohio.
For those interested in something more advanced, Ohio State also offers 2 different higher degree levels in foreign languages and linguistics, the most popular of which is a Doctor's Degree (Research / Scholarship).
More… Request Information
Located in the large city Seattle, UW Seattle is a public school with a very large student population. This school ranks 84th out of 1,727 colleges for overall quality in the state of Washington.
There are approximately 277 foreign languages and linguistics undergrads studying this program at UW Seattle.
More… Request Information
UCLA is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. This college ranks 49th out of 1,727 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
There are roughly 449 foreign languages and linguistics undergrads enrolled in this degree at UCLA.
More… Request Information
WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. A Best Colleges rank of 19 out of 1,727 colleges nationwide means WUSTL is a great college overall.
A favorite major for foreign languages and linguistics undergrads, there are approximately 112 individuals enrolled in this degree at WUSTL.
More… Request Information
Harvard is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. A Best Colleges rank of 5 out of 1,727 colleges nationwide means Harvard is a great school overall.
For those interested in something more advanced, Harvard also offers 2 different higher degree levels in foreign languages and linguistics, the most popular of which is a Master's Degree.
More… Request Information
Located in the midsize suburb Clinton, Hamilton is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of 21 out of 1,727 colleges nationwide means Hamilton is a great college overall.
With 51 undergraduates, Hamilton College is one of most popular schools to study foreign languages and linguistics in United States.
More… Request Information
Middlebury is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. A Best Colleges rank of 41 out of 1,727 colleges nationwide means Middlebury is a great college overall.
There are about 166 foreign languages and linguistics undergrads enrolled in this degree at Middlebury.
More… Request Information
UPenn is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. A Best Colleges rank of 3 out of 1,727 schools nationwide means UPenn is a great college overall.
For those interested in something more advanced, UPenn also offers 2 different higher degree levels in foreign languages and linguistics, the most popular of which is a Master's Degree.
More… Request Information
Located in the large city Tucson, Arizona is a public school with a fairly large student population. This school ranks 325th out of 1,727 schools for overall quality in the state of Arizona.
There are about 251 foreign languages and linguistics undergrads enrolled in this program at Arizona.
More… Request Information
NYU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New York. This school ranks 129th out of 1,727 schools for overall quality in the state of New York.
With 244 undergraduates, New York University is one of most popular schools to study foreign languages and linguistics in United States.
More… Request Information
Located in the small suburb Davis, UC Davis is a public school with a fairly large student population. This college ranks 74th out of 1,727 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
University of California - Davis is one of the most popular college to study foreign languages and linguistics in United States with more than 271 graduates last year.
More… Request Information
UCSB is a fairly large public school located in the midsize suburb of Santa Barbara. This school ranks 125th out of 1,727 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
With 205 undergraduates, University of California - Santa Barbara is one of most popular colleges to study foreign languages and linguistics in United States.
More… Request Information
UT Austin is a very large public school located in the large city of Austin. This college ranks 78th out of 1,727 colleges for overall quality in the state of Texas.
There are about 236 foreign languages and linguistics undergrads enrolled in this degree at UT Austin.
More… Request Information
Duke is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. A Best Colleges rank of 1 out of 1,727 schools nationwide means Duke is a great college overall.
For those interested in something more advanced, Duke also offers 3 different higher degree levels in foreign languages and linguistics, the most popular of which is a Master's Degree.
More… Request Information
Located in the small city Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public school with a very large student population. This college ranks 181st out of 1,727 colleges for overall quality in the state of Indiana.
There are about 293 foreign languages and linguistics undergraduates enrolled in this program at IU Bloomington.
More… Request Information
Located in the city Gainesville, U of F is a public school with a fairly large student population. This college ranks 73rd out of 1,727 colleges for overall quality in the state of Florida.
For those interested in something more advanced, U of F also offers 2 different higher degree levels in foreign languages and linguistics, the most popular of which is a Master's Degree.
More… Request InformationRest of the Top Best Colleges for Foreign Languages & Linguistics
Additional Award Winners
This section shows the rest of the schools awarded a Best Colleges for Foreign Languages & Linguistics badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 341 different United States foreign languages and linguistics schools we analyzed.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Davidson College | Davidson, NC |
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Colleges for Foreign Languages & Linguistics award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Western Washington University | Bellingham, WA |
| 53 | Washington & Jefferson College | Washington, PA |
| 54 | Tufts University | Medford, MA |
| 55 | University of California - Riverside | Riverside, CA |
| 56 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA |
| 57 | Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem, NC |
| 58 | Trinity College | Hartford, CT |
| 59 | Colgate University | Hamilton, NY |
| 60 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL |
| 61 | University of Oklahoma Norman Campus | Norman, OK |
| 62 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI |
| 63 | University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT |
| 64 | Boston University | Boston, MA |
| 65 | University of Rochester | Rochester, NY |
| 66 | Pomona College | Claremont, CA |
| 67 | Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr, PA |
| 68 | San Jose State University | San Jose, CA |
Foreign Languages & Linguistics by Region
View the Best Colleges for Foreign Languages & Linguistics for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| The Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Foreign Languages & Linguistics Rankings
Foreign Languages & Linguistics Related Rankings by Major
Foreign Languages & Linguistics Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Romance Languages | 16,242 |
| Linguistics & Comparative Literature | 8,641 |
| American Sign Language | 2,660 |
| East Asian Languages | 2,323 |
| Classical Languages & Literature | 1,633 |
View All Foreign Languages & Linguistics Related Majors >
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities | 516,754 |
| Visual & Performing Arts | 154,258 |
| English Language & Literature | 57,989 |
| Theology & Religious Vocations | 31,559 |
| Philosophy & Religious Studies | 16,163 |
View All Foreign Languages & Linguistics Related Majors >
Notes and References
- The bars on the spread charts above show the distribution of the schools on this list +/- one standard deviation from the mean.
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to John Stephen Dwyer.
Featured Foreign Language Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
Request Info
|
Purdue University Building on Purdue’s mission to provide greater access to affordable, world-class education, Purdue University Global delivers a fully personalized online experience that’s tailored to working adults. By opening the doors to adults who need flexibility to fit learning into their busy lives, we make it possible to achieve a high-quality education from the prestigious Purdue University system—completely online. Learn More > |
Request Info
|
Grand Canyon University (GCU) With a spotlight on intellectual creativity and innovation for the 21stcentury, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at GCU provides a job focused education. It blends the study of traditional humanities in a modern context. Through academic inquiry and beyond the box thinking, the college advances our society and its accomplishments. Learn More > |
Request Info
| Northcentral University Northcentral University (NCU) was founded to provide accessible, high-quality, online graduate degrees to working professionals. As a regionally accredited, online university, NCU serves students worldwide, focusing on Doctoral and Master's degree programs in the Schools of Business and Technology Management, Education, Psychology, and Marriage and Family Sciences. Learn More > |
Request Info
| Colorado Technical University (CTU) CTU could help you connect to what matters most: a powerful professional community, faculty who are real-world professionals, and innovative technology. Learn More > |
College Factual provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© College Factual – All Rights Reserved.
