2026 Best Value Italian Language & Literature Master’s Degree Schools

[Italian Language & Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/romance-languages/italian-language-literature/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 140 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for italian language & literature students.
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2026 Best Value Italian Language & Literature Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the italian language & literature degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Italian Language & Literature Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of South Florida Main Campus the best value for a degree in italian language & literature in the United States. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for italian language & literature graduates is $21,829. Italian Language & Literature graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. Set against $21,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the best values for italian language & literature. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $17,559 to complete the italian language & literature program here. Italian Language & Literature graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. Set against $17,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Florida State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in italian language & literature, landing the #3 spot this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the italian language & literature program here. Italian Language & Literature graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $28,603 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
A rank of #4 makes Montclair State University one of the best values for italian language & literature. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,912, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. Typical student debt for italian language & literature graduates is $25,250. Early-career italian language & literature graduates make about $47,487. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in italian language & literature will find it at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the italian language & literature program here. Early-career italian language & literature graduates make about $33,307. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in italian language & literature this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Italian Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $22,746 in student loans. Early-career italian language & literature graduates make about $27,815. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #7 position for value in italian language & literature 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. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the italian language & literature program here. Italian Language & Literature graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $54,327 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Iowa placed #8 among the best values for italian language & literature. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for italian language & literature graduates is $23,702. Soon after graduation, italian language & literature degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $28,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value italian language & literature schools. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Italian Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Italian Language & Literature graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $58,402 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Middlebury College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value italian language & literature schools. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,600 in tuition and fees. Italian Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $15,948 in student loans. Early-career italian language & literature graduates make about $53,716. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University landed the #11 spot for italian language & literature value this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Typical student debt for italian language & literature graduates is $14,357. Italian Language & Literature graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Cornell University came in at #12 for value in italian language & literature this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Italian Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Italian Language & Literature graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $75,976 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
New York University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value italian language & literature schools. 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. Italian Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Soon after graduation, italian language & literature degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value italian language & literature schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Typical student debt for italian language & literature graduates is $17,500. Early-career italian language & literature graduates make about $46,190. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgetown University admits about 13% of applicants.
Other Italian Language & Literature Degree Levels
Explore the best-value italian language & literature schools at other degree levels:
View All Italian Language & Literature Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 140 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.