Foreign Languages & Linguistics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 384 schools to find the best for foreign languages & linguistics students.
Choosing a Great Foreign Languages & Linguistics School
The school you choose for foreign languages & linguistics can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Foreign Languages & Linguistics School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Foreign Languages & Linguistics Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Vanderbilt University tops our 2027 ranking of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 18 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $47,208 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in foreign languages & linguistics, landing the #2 spot this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 75 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Stanford University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Chicago one of the top schools for foreign languages & linguistics. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 84 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $81,002 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the top schools for foreign languages & linguistics. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 215 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $54,327. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree.
See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Students looking for a strong foreign languages & linguistics program will find one at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 76 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $63,111 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844.
More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Purdue University Main Campus
Brandeis University placed #6 among the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Brandeis University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 14 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Brandeis University in the most recent year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $47,783 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,653.
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American University landed the #7 spot for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 44 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from American University generally make around $52,493. American University graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
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Texas Christian University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Texas Christian University graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from Texas Christian University earn around $60,035 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans.
Read more about the foreign languages & linguistics program at Texas Christian University
Northwestern University came in at #9 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 47 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for Northwestern University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #10 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 44 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $83,560 in their early career. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans.
Read more about the foreign languages & linguistics program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
New York University placed #11 among the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 113 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $42,500 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
Read more about the foreign languages & linguistics program at New York University
Yale University landed the #12 spot for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. Yale University awarded about 123 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from Yale University earn around $74,578 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Yale University
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #13 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 80 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $38,269. Students borrow a median of $14,050 to complete this degree.
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Washington University In St Louis came in at #14 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $68,303 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,553.
See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for Washington University In St Louis
Brown University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Brown University awarded about 36 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from Brown University earn around $62,820 in the first couple years of their career. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania landed the #16 spot for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 87 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
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Amherst College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 20 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Amherst College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $49,322. Students borrow a median of $15,398 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 259 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $29,172. Students borrow a median of $14,610 to complete this degree.
See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for University Of California Los Angeles
Princeton University earned the #19 position for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 90 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from Princeton University earn around $67,532 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
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Cornell University landed the #20 spot for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 67 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $33,419 early in their careers. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
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Clemson University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 61 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from Clemson University earn around $30,294 in the first couple years of their career. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $26,350 in student loans.
More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Clemson University
Dartmouth College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. Dartmouth College graduates 96% of students within six years. Dartmouth College awarded about 36 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from Dartmouth College earn around $81,992 in the first couple years of their career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #23 spot for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 355 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $35,720 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree.
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Hamilton College earned the #24 position for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Set in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 27 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Hamilton College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Hamilton College generally make around $41,946. Students borrow a median of $12,200 to complete this degree.
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Weber State University earned the #25 position for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 241 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Weber State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $27,989. Typical student debt for the program is $10,250.
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Rest of the Top 50 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools
These schools also placed among the best for foreign languages & linguistics this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 384 schools evaluated.
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).
