Linguistics & Comparative Literature degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 533 schools to find the best for linguistics & comparative literature students.
Leading the list is Brown University, our #1 school for linguistics & comparative literature. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 20 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
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Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in linguistics & comparative literature, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in linguistics & comparative literature, ranking #3. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 13 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in linguistics & comparative literature, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 36 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $83,560 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in linguistics & comparative literature, ranking #5. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 22 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $63,111 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete this degree.
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Dartmouth College placed #6 among the best linguistics & comparative literature 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%. Dartmouth College awarded about 16 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $81,992 in their early career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans.
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Harvard University landed the #7 spot for linguistics & comparative literature this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. About 20 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles earned the #8 position for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. About 94 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $30,524 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Yale University earned the #9 position for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. Yale University awarded about 17 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $74,578 in their early career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
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New York University placed #10 among the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 24 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of New York University earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
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Princeton University came in at #11 for linguistics & comparative literature this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #12 for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
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Cornell University came in at #13 for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 14 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $75,976 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500.
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San Jose State University landed the #14 spot for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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Georgetown University earned the #15 position for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 26 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $28,278. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #16 spot for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $35,409 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,286 to complete this degree.
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University Of Rochester came in at #17 for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Rochester graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Rochester awarded about 10 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $60,865. Typical student debt for the program is $21,517.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #18 among the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 18 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $27,699. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $15,124 in student loans.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 60 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $37,389 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
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James Madison University landed the #20 spot for linguistics & comparative literature this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $45,122 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,398 to complete this degree.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #21 for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 47 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $34,099 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete this degree.
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Boston University earned the #22 position for linguistics & comparative literature this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree.
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University Of Southern California placed #23 among the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. About 12 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
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University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 87 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $27,629 early in their careers. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $14,100 in student loans.
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Northeastern University came in at #25 for linguistics & comparative literature this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. Northeastern University awarded about 10 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $74,800. Students borrow a median of $25,611 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong linguistics & comparative literature education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 533 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).
