Best Schools for Foreign Languages & Linguistics in the United States
These are the top schools for a master’s degree in foreign languages & linguistics, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Foreign Languages & Linguistics
Leading the list is New York University, our #1 school for foreign languages & linguistics. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. New York University awarded about 70 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from New York University generally make around $42,500. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong foreign languages & linguistics program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #2. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 43 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from University Of Southern California earn around $75,677 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,380.
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Students looking for a strong foreign languages & linguistics program will find one at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 66 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $26,449 in their early career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $14,610 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in foreign languages & linguistics, ranking #4. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 34 foreign languages & linguistics degrees 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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Georgetown University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in foreign languages & linguistics, ranking #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 78 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $39,525 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #6 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 113 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $54,327 in the first couple years of their career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans.
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Princeton University landed the #7 spot for foreign languages & linguistics this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. About 34 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #8 position for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 20 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
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Yale University came in at #9 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
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Villanova University placed #10 among the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $45,088 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Dartmouth College placed #11 among the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 56 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $81,992. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete this degree.
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University Of Connecticut placed #12 among the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 34 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $58,784 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,377 to complete this degree.
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Cornell University landed the #13 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 28 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from Cornell University earn around $33,419 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Delaware ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 35 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Delaware in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from University Of Delaware earn around $36,297 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $25,336 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 19 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $24,658 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,815.
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Carnegie Mellon University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 14 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
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Arizona State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 45 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from Arizona State University earn around $42,436 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,677.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $34,099 in the first couple years of their career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans.
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Indiana University Bloomington came in at #19 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 53 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $29,902. Typical student debt for the program is $17,465.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #20 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 67 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $28,658 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
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Syracuse University placed #21 among the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 22 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $39,825 in their early career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $26,137 in student loans.
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The University Of Alabama placed #22 among the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tuscaloosa. About 73% of students finish within six years. The University Of Alabama awarded about 24 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,496.
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Brigham Young University Provo ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 126 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent data year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $47,544 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,668.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $31,501 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,092.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #25 spot for foreign languages & linguistics this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $17,559 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s foreign languages & linguistics ranking:
Honorable Mentions
These schools earned honorable mentions for foreign languages & linguistics:
Other Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Foreign Languages & Linguistics rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 1299 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
