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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Linguistics Schools in the Great Lakes Region

8 Colleges in the United States
277 Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$47,205 Avg Early-Career Salary

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 29 schools to find the best for linguistics students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Linguistics in the Great Lakes Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the linguistics degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Linguistics

1

University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in linguistics. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. About 20 linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Linguistics graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Get the full linguistics details for University Of Chicago

2
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in linguistics, ranking #2. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 18 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $63,111 in their early career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. More information about a degree in linguistics from Purdue University Main Campus

3

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in linguistics, ranking #3. 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 22 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Linguistics graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $27,699 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,124 to complete this degree. Read more about the linguistics program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

4

Students looking for a strong linguistics program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #4. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 22 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in linguistics from University Of Wisconsin Madison

5

Benedictine University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in linguistics, ranking #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lisle. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Benedictine University awarded about 25 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $54,212. Benedictine University graduates carry a median of $25,338 in student loans. See the full linguistics program report for Benedictine University

6

Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #6 for linguistics this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 38 linguistics degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $27,788. Typical student debt for the program is $20,096. More information about a degree in linguistics from Ohio State University Main Campus

7
Cedarville University crest
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH

Cedarville University landed the #7 spot for linguistics this year. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 14 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Cedarville University in the most recent data year. Linguistics graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $57,104 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,110. Get the full linguistics details for Cedarville University

8

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #8 spot for linguistics this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Linguistics graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $25,921 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the linguistics program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

9
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University landed the #9 spot for linguistics this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. Michigan State University awarded about 28 linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $54,166. Students borrow a median of $24,915 to complete this degree. See the full linguistics program report for Michigan State University

10

Indiana University Bloomington landed the #10 spot for linguistics this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 25 linguistics degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Linguistics graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $18,635 in student loans. More information about a degree in linguistics from Indiana University Bloomington

11

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best linguistics schools. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 10 linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $34,935 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,479. More information about a degree in linguistics from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

12
Oakland University crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI

Oakland University came in at #12 for linguistics this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Oakland University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $54,785 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,972 to complete this degree. See the full linguistics program report for Oakland University

13

Wayne State University placed #13 among the best linguistics schools. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 linguistics degrees were awarded at Wayne State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the linguistics program make about $20,939 in their early career. Wayne State University graduates carry a median of $25,924 in student loans. See the full linguistics program report for Wayne State University

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 29 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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