2026 Best Value French Language & Literature Schools in the Southwest Region
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for french language & literature students.
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2026 Best Value French Language & Literature Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in french language & literature, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value French Language & Literature Schools
Leading the list is Austin Community College District, our #1 best value for french language & literature in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $14,125 in student loans. Early-career french language & literature graduates make about $30,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Arizona State University one of the best values for french language & literature. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $21,534 to complete the french language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $42,436. Set against $21,534 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in french language & literature will find it at University Of Houston, which ranked #3. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Typical student debt for french language & literature graduates is $18,750. Early-career french language & literature graduates make about $57,529. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in french language & literature, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $20,666 in student loans. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $24,880. That is a strong return on a $20,666 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At Arlington earned it the #5 place for french language & literature. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,950, compared with $29,582 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for french language & literature graduates is $16,797. French Language & Literature graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $30,505 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,797 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Arizona came in at #6 for value in french language & literature this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $16,725 to complete the french language & literature program here. Early-career french language & literature graduates make about $34,484. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned the #7 position for value in french language & literature this year. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $20,405 in student loans. French Language & Literature graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $58,084 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,405 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value french language & literature schools. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Typical student debt for french language & literature graduates is $22,133. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $35,781. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in french language & literature this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $15,187 in student loans. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $32,236. Set against $15,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #10 among the best values for french language & literature. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $19,241 in student loans. Early-career french language & literature graduates make about $34,929. That is a strong return on a $19,241 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Texas Christian University placed #11 among the best values for french language & literature. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,740. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans. French Language & Literature graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $60,035 early in their careers. Set against $22,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Christian University admits about 44% of applicants.
Southern Methodist University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value french language & literature schools. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,730 to complete the french language & literature program here. French Language & Literature graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $57,858 early in their careers. Set against $19,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Baylor University placed #13 among the best values for french language & literature. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. French Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $26,228 in student loans. French Language & Literature graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $34,649 early in their careers. Set against $26,228 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 51%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
