2026 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Master’s Degree Schools

1

Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY

For return on investment in linguistics & comparative literature, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $51,372 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,091 median debt. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.

2

The University Of Texas Pan American
Edinburg, TX

The University Of Texas Pan American is a great value for students pursuing a degree in linguistics & comparative literature, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Students borrow a median of $14,694 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $46,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.

3

California State University Long Beach
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Students borrow a median of $12,580 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $18,393. Set against $12,580 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.

4

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $24,323. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.

5

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #5 place for linguistics & comparative literature. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Students borrow a median of $17,775 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $24,658 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%.

6

University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras
San Juan, PR

University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras placed #6 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Set in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,324. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $5,500. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras earn a median of $9,605 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras admits about 55% of applicants.

7

University Of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

University Of California Los Angeles landed the #7 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $30,524. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.

8

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

Arizona State University earned the #8 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $21,842 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $55,876. That is a strong return on a $21,842 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.

9

Texas A And M University Commerce
Commerce, TX

Texas A And M University Commerce ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public school located in the town of Commerce. In-state tuition and fees average $10,026, compared with $22,326 for out-of-state students. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $23,796 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce generally make around $54,201. Set against $23,796 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University Commerce admits about 92% of applicants.

10

West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV

West Virginia University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $20,916. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $32,684. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.

11

University Of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT

University Of Utah came in at #11 for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,715 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $30,251 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.

12

Brigham Young University Provo
Provo, UT

Brigham Young University Provo earned the #12 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $11,621 in student loans. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $34,279. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.

13

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #13 for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $25,921. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.

14

University Of Delaware
Newark, DE

University Of Delaware came in at #14 for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Students borrow a median of $24,861 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $54,155 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.

15

North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #15 for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $34,099. Set against $19,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.

16

The University Of Texas At Arlington
Arlington, TX

The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #16 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,950 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $16,833. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $30,895. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Arlington admits about 80% of applicants.

17

University Of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA

University Of California Santa Cruz placed #17 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,035, compared with $46,923 for out-of-state students. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $17,491 in student loans. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $21,793. That is a strong return on a $17,491 median debt. University Of California Santa Cruz admits about 66% of applicants.

18

Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT

Central Connecticut State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,050, with out-of-state students paying around $16,550. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $24,340. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Central Connecticut State University earn a median of $60,151 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,340 median debt. Central Connecticut State University admits about 73% of applicants.

19

Wayne State University
Detroit, MI

Wayne State University placed #19 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $25,924 in student loans. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $20,939 early in their careers. Set against $25,924 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.

20

The University Of Texas At Dallas
Richardson, TX

The University Of Texas At Dallas earned the #20 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. Students from in state pay about $14,644 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Students borrow a median of $23,156 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $31,993 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Dallas admits about 65% of applicants.

21

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #21 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $25,479. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $44,585. That is a strong return on a $25,479 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.

22

University Of Kentucky
Lexington, KY

University Of Kentucky landed the #22 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,530 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $27,449 early in their careers. Set against $26,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.

23

University Of Massachusetts Boston
Boston, MA

University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #23 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Located in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,898 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $26,236. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $59,206. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.

24

University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Albuquerque, NM

University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #24 for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $19,738. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $27,366. That is a strong return on a $19,738 median debt. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.

25

Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX

Texas Tech University placed #25 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.