2027 Best Value French Language & Literature Master’s Degree Schools

[French Language & Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/romance-languages/french-language-literature/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for french language & literature students.
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2027 Best Value French Language & Literature Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the french language & literature degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value French Language & Literature Schools
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for french language & literature in the United States. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $27,578. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in french language & literature will find it at California State University Northridge, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Students borrow a median of $15,184 to complete the french language & literature program here. French Language & Literature graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $48,437 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #3 makes California State University Fresno one of the best values for french language & literature. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,341, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. Early-career french language & literature graduates make about $20,070. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Students looking for strong value in french language & literature will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,800 to complete the french language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Set against $21,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in french language & literature, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the french language & literature program here. French Language & Literature graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $33,307 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Idaho State University earned the #6 position for value in french language & literature this year. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,610 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the french language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from Idaho State University generally make around $38,054. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt.
Montclair State University earned the #7 position for value in french language & literature this year. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,912, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from Montclair State University generally make around $47,487. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona earned the #8 position for value in french language & literature this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $16,725 in student loans. Early-career french language & literature graduates make about $34,484. Set against $16,725 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Western Michigan University came in at #9 for value in french language & literature this year. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $28,625 in student loans. Early-career french language & literature graduates make about $32,630. Set against $28,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University came in at #10 for value in french language & literature this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $19,212 in student loans. Early-career french language & literature graduates make about $43,821. Set against $19,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value french language & literature schools. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career french language & literature graduates make about $54,327. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Yale University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value french language & literature schools. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value french language & literature schools. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete the french language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $55,422. Set against $22,803 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Middlebury College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value french language & literature schools. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. In-state tuition and fees average $67,600. Typical student debt for french language & literature graduates is $15,948. Early-career french language & literature graduates make about $53,716. That is a strong return on a $15,948 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #15 for value in french language & literature this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Typical student debt for french language & literature graduates is $23,250. French Language & Literature graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $45,050 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
New York University placed #16 among the best values for french language & literature. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for french language & literature graduates is $21,897. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. That is a strong return on a $21,897 median debt. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Other French Language & Literature Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value French Language & Literature rankings across degree levels:
View All French Language & Literature Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- 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.