2026 Best Value Spanish Language & Literature Schools in Illinois

[Spanish Language & Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/romance-languages/spanish-language-literature/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 34 schools to find the best return on investment for spanish language & literature students.
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2026 Best Value Spanish Language & Literature Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in spanish language & literature, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Spanish Language & Literature Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Chicago, our #1 best value for spanish language & literature in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $17,559 to complete the spanish language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, spanish language & literature degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. That is a strong return on a $17,559 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in spanish language & literature, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Spanish Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Early-career spanish language & literature graduates make about $40,586. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value spanish language & literature schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for spanish language & literature graduates is $21,800. Soon after graduation, spanish language & literature degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $38,942. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Illinois State University one of the best values for spanish language & literature. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete the spanish language & literature program here. Early-career spanish language & literature graduates make about $49,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wheaton College Illinois earned it the #5 place for spanish language & literature. Located in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,546 in tuition and fees. Spanish Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $26,650 in student loans. Spanish Language & Literature graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $37,025 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wheaton College Illinois admits about 87% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #6 spot for spanish language & literature value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Typical student debt for spanish language & literature graduates is $22,698. Early-career spanish language & literature graduates make about $58,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.