Linguistics 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 176 schools to find the best for linguistics students.
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Choosing a Great Linguistics School
Where you study linguistics matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Linguistics Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Linguistics Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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Leading the list is University Of Chicago, our #1 school for linguistics. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 20 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
More information about a degree in linguistics from University Of Chicago
Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in linguistics, ranking #2. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
See the full linguistics program report for Stanford University
Purdue University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in linguistics, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 18 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $63,111 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844.
More information about a degree in linguistics from Purdue University Main Campus
Harvard University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in linguistics, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Harvard University awarded about 22 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $95,207 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
Read more about the linguistics program at Harvard University
A rank of #5 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the top schools for linguistics. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 10 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $86,770 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
Get the full linguistics details for Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of California Los Angeles placed #6 among the best linguistics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 30 linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Linguistics graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $30,524 early in their careers. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in linguistics from University Of California Los Angeles
Dartmouth College landed the #7 spot for linguistics this year. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Dartmouth College awarded about 12 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $81,992 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in linguistics from Dartmouth College
Cornell University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best linguistics schools. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 16 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $75,976. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500.
More information about a degree in linguistics from Cornell University
Yale University landed the #9 spot for linguistics this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 17 linguistics degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Linguistics graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
Get the full linguistics details for Yale University
San Jose State University placed #10 among the best linguistics schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 18 linguistics degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in linguistics from San Jose State University
Georgetown University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best linguistics schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 71 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $28,278 in their early career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in linguistics from Georgetown University
University Of Southern California came in at #12 for linguistics this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $75,677 in their early career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
See the full linguistics program report for University Of Southern California
University Of Connecticut landed the #13 spot for linguistics this year. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. University Of Connecticut graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of Connecticut awarded about 18 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $58,784. Typical student debt for the program is $23,637.
Get the full linguistics details for University Of Connecticut
University Of Rochester placed #14 among the best linguistics schools. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rochester in the most recent data year. Linguistics graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $60,865 early in their careers. University Of Rochester graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans.
Get the full linguistics details for University Of Rochester
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #15 among the best linguistics schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 22 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $27,699 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,124 to complete this degree.
Get the full linguistics details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Delaware earned the #16 position for linguistics this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Linguistics graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $54,155 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,861 to complete this degree.
Read more about the linguistics program at University Of Delaware
Boston University landed the #17 spot for linguistics this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 linguistics degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from Boston University earn around $63,598 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232.
More information about a degree in linguistics from Boston University
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #18 spot for linguistics this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 63 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $27,629. Students borrow a median of $14,100 to complete this degree.
Get the full linguistics details for University Of California Santa Barbara
Northeastern University landed the #19 spot for linguistics this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $74,800. Students borrow a median of $25,611 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in linguistics from Northeastern University
Arizona State University came in at #20 for linguistics this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from Arizona State University earn around $55,876 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,842.
Get the full linguistics details for Arizona State University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #21 spot for linguistics this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $24,658 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,775.
More information about a degree in linguistics from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of California Berkeley placed #22 among the best linguistics schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 45 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $25,059 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete this degree.
See the full linguistics program report for University Of California Berkeley
University Of Maryland College Park placed #23 among the best linguistics schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Linguistics graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
More information about a degree in linguistics from University Of Maryland College Park
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #24 position for linguistics this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 38 linguistics degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their linguistics degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $32,185 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,892.
Read more about the linguistics program at The University Of Texas At Austin
College Of William And Mary landed the #25 spot for linguistics this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Williamsburg. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Linguistics graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $53,338 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,935.
Get the full linguistics details for College Of William And Mary
Rest of the Top 50 Linguistics Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong linguistics education:
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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 · 176 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).