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2026 Best Value Modern Languages Schools in Michigan

[Modern Languages](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/modern-languages/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for modern languages students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Modern Languages Schools in Michigan

2026 Best Value Modern Languages Schools in Michigan

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in modern languages, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Modern Languages Schools

1

Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI

$17,167 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,972 Avg Student Debt

$58,612 Median Earnings (10yr)

Oakland University tops our 2026 list of the best value modern languages schools in Michigan. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for modern languages graduates is $25,972. Soon after graduation, modern languages degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $54,785. Set against $25,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.

2

Wayne State University
Detroit, MI

$16,159 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,924 Avg Student Debt

$53,493 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes Wayne State University one of the best values for modern languages. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Modern Languages graduates carry a median of $25,924 in student loans. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $20,939. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.

View All Modern Languages Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 5 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.