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2024 Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools

253 Colleges in the United States
33,333 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$31,172 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you're seeking a degree in foreign languages & linguistics, you will have fewer peers than average since the major degree program is the #24 one in the country in terms of popularity.As such, your educational options may be more limited than if you were in a more popular field.

College Factual looked at 253 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 33,333 degrees in foreign languages & linguistics to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Foreign Languages & Linguistics School

Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools Your choice of foreign languages & linguistics school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. For our Best Overall Foreign Languages & Linguistics School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.

You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.

Pick Your Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Foreign Languages & Linguistics
Bachelor's Degrees in Foreign Languages & Linguistics
Master's Degrees in Foreign Languages & Linguistics
Doctor's Degrees in Foreign Languages & Linguistics

When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools list to help you make the college decision. You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.

Best Schools for Foreign Languages & Linguistics in the United States

If you aren't interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the foreign languages & linguistics degrees they offer, see the list below. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools in Foreign Languages & Linguistics

1
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
148 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$37,909 Median Starting Salary

Every student pursuing a degree in foreign languages & linguistics needs to take a look at University of Notre Dame. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #20 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Notre Dame is a great university overall.

There were approximately 148 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the foreign languages & linguistics major at University of Notre Dame earn $6,737 above the average graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from University of Notre Dame

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
265 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$53,639 Median Starting Salary

Columbia University in the City of New York is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a degree in foreign languages & linguistics. Located in the city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #14 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Columbia is a great university overall.

There were approximately 265 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Columbia in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the foreign languages & linguistics program at Columbia University in the City of New York make $22,467 more than the typical college grad in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Columbia University in the City of New York

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
77 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$31,649 Median Starting Salary

Any student pursuing a degree in foreign languages & linguistics needs to take a look at Vanderbilt University. Vanderbilt is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Nashville. A Best Colleges rank of #19 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Vanderbilt is a great university overall.

There were about 77 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the foreign languages & linguistics program state that they receive average early career wages of $31,649.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Vanderbilt University

4
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
204 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$35,907 Median Starting Salary

It is hard to beat University of Virginia - Main Campus if you wish to pursue a degree in foreign languages & linguistics. University of Virginia is a very large public university located in the suburb of Charlottesville. This university ranks 1st out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Virginia.

There were roughly 204 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University of Virginia in the most recent year we have data available. Those foreign languages & linguistics students who get their degree from University of Virginia - Main Campus receive $4,735 more than the typical foreign languages & linguistics graduate.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from University of Virginia - Main Campus

5
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
337 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$31,599 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #26 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UCLA is a great university overall.

There were roughly 337 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the foreign languages & linguistics program report average early career earnings of $31,599.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from University of California - Los Angeles

6
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, NC
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
91 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
17.6% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #7 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Duke is a great university overall.

There were approximately 91 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Duke in the most recent data year. Those foreign languages & linguistics students who get their degree from Duke University earn $2,269 more than the typical foreign languages & linguistics graduate.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Duke University

7
Georgetown crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
122 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$39,870 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large city of Washington, Georgetown is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #15 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Georgetown is a great university overall.

There were about 121.99999999999999 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown in the most recent year we have data available. Foreign Languages & Linguistics degree recipients from Georgetown University receive an earnings boost of about $8,698 above the average earnings of foreign languages & linguistics majors.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Georgetown University

8
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
122 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
18.0% Growth in Graduates

USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Los Angeles. A Best Colleges rank of #11 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means USC is a great university overall.

There were roughly 122 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent year we have data available. Foreign Languages & Linguistics degree recipients from University of Southern California earn a boost of around $4,866 over the typical income of foreign languages & linguistics graduates.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from University of Southern California

9
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
273 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
1.8% Growth in Graduates

UC Berkeley is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley. A Best Colleges rank of #18 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UC Berkeley is a great university overall.

There were about 273 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at UC Berkeley in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the foreign languages & linguistics program at University of California - Berkeley earn $3,700 above the average college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from University of California - Berkeley

10
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
150 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
3.3% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 85 colleges for overall quality in the state of Illinois.

There were about 150 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent data year. Those foreign languages & linguistics students who get their degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign earn $2,374 more than the standard foreign languages & linguistics graduate.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

11
Gallaudet crest
Gallaudet University
Washington, DC
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
79 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
7.6% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large city of Washington, Gallaudet is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. This university ranks 4th out of 8 colleges for overall quality in the state of District of Columbia.

There were approximately 79 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Gallaudet in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the foreign languages & linguistics degree program at Gallaudet University earn $12,577 above the typical college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Gallaudet University

12
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
474 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$32,882 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #30 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UW - Madison is a great university overall.

There were approximately 474.00000000000006 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at UW - Madison in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the foreign languages & linguistics program report average early career wages of $32,882.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from University of Wisconsin - Madison

13
Brown crest
Brown University
Providence, RI
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
50 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$28,130 Median Starting Salary

Located in the midsize city of Providence, Brown is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #21 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Brown is a great university overall.

There were about 50 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Brown in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the foreign languages & linguistics program report average early career wages of $28,130.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Brown University

14
Tufts crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
81 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$38,566 Median Starting Salary

Tufts is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Medford. This university ranks 4th out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were approximately 81 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Tufts in the most recent data year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics degree recipients from Tufts University get an earnings boost of approximately $7,394 over the typical earnings of foreign languages & linguistics graduates.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Tufts University

15
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
49 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
16.3% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large suburb of Dallas, SMU is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. This university ranks 4th out of 115 schools for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were about 49 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at SMU in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the foreign languages & linguistics degree program at Southern Methodist University make $12,212 more than the average college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Southern Methodist University

16
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
206 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$29,588 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Gainesville, UF is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 77 colleges for overall quality in the state of Florida.

There were roughly 206 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at UF in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients generally make around $29,588 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from University of Florida

17
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
43 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$57,928 Median Starting Salary

Middlebury Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize suburb of Monterey. This school ranks 34th out of 168 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.

There were approximately 43 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Middlebury Institute in the most recent data year. Those foreign languages & linguistics students who get their degree from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey make $26,756 more than the typical foreign languages & linguistics grad.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

18
Bucknell crest
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
50 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$45,358 Median Starting Salary

Located in the distant town of Lewisburg, Bucknell is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. This university ranks 4th out of 109 colleges for overall quality in the state of Pennsylvania.

There were roughly 50 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Bucknell in the most recent year we have data available. Those foreign languages & linguistics students who get their degree from Bucknell University receive $14,186 more than the average foreign languages & linguistics graduate.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Bucknell University

19
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
190 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
0.5% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large city of New York, NYU is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #27 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means NYU is a great university overall.

There were approximately 190 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at NYU in the most recent data year. Those foreign languages & linguistics students who get their degree from New York University make $10,225 more than the typical foreign languages & linguistics graduate.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from New York University

20
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
164 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
3.7% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Chicago, UChicago is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #2 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UChicago is a great university overall.

There were approximately 164 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at UChicago in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the foreign languages & linguistics program state that they receive average early career income of $14,137.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from University of Chicago

21
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
258 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$30,575 Median Starting Salary

Located in the suburb of Davis, UC Davis is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 13th out of 168 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.

There were about 258 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at UC Davis in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $30,575 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from University of California - Davis

22
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
171 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$33,174 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Pitt is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 7th out of 109 schools for overall quality in the state of Pennsylvania.

There were about 171 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Pitt in the most recent year we have data available. Those foreign languages & linguistics students who get their degree from University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus receive $2,002 more than the typical foreign languages & linguistics grad.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus

23
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
242 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$29,836 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Seattle, UW Seattle is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 51 schools for overall quality in the state of Washington.

There were roughly 241.99999999999997 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at UW Seattle in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the foreign languages & linguistics program report average early career wages of $29,836.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from University of Washington - Seattle Campus

24
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
364 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$36,011 Median Starting Salary

BYU is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Provo. This university ranks 1st out of 13 schools for overall quality in the state of Utah.

There were about 364 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at BYU in the most recent data year. Those foreign languages & linguistics students who get their degree from Brigham Young University - Provo earn $4,839 more than the average foreign languages & linguistics student.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Brigham Young University - Provo

25
Colby crest
Colby College
Waterville, ME
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
31 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$44,612 Median Starting Salary

Located in the town of Waterville, Colby is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. This college ranks 2nd out of 19 colleges for overall quality in the state of Maine.

There were about 31 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Colby in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the foreign languages & linguistics program at Colby College get $13,440 above the typical graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Colby College

Rest of the Top Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools

26
Hamilton crest
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY
27
28
29
30
31
32
Colgate crest
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY

33
Middlebury crest
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT

34
35
Vassar crest
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY
36
Wellesley crest
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA
37

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools award.

RankCollegeLocation
38Ohio State University - Main CampusColumbus, OH
39University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI
40Boston UniversityBoston, MA
41University of Minnesota - Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN
42DePauw UniversityGreencastle, IN
43University of Massachusetts AmherstAmherst, MA
44University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT
45Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY
46Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA
47Indiana University - BloomingtonBloomington, IN
48University of Wisconsin - Eau ClaireEau Claire, WI
49College of Saint BenedictSaint Joseph, MN
50Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA

Foreign Languages & Linguistics by Region

View the Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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Foreign Languages & Linguistics Majors to Study

MajorAnnual Graduates
Romance Languages15,009
Linguistics & Comparative Literature8,539
American Sign Language2,724
East Asian Languages2,293
Classical Languages & Literature1,428
Germanic Languages1,425
Slavic, Baltic & Albanian Languages607
Middle Eastern Semitic Languages607
Foreign Language, Literature & Linguistics (Other)500
Second Language Learning108

View All Foreign Languages & Linguistics Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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