2026 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools in New York
[Linguistics & Comparative Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 37 schools to find the best return on investment for linguistics & comparative literature students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools in New York
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the linguistics & comparative literature degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuny Hunter College the best value for a degree in linguistics & comparative literature in New York. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $51,372. Set against $11,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Lehman College earned it the #2 place for linguistics & comparative literature. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,410, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $13,213 in student loans. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $54,729. That is a strong return on a $13,213 median debt. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queens College earned it the #3 place for linguistics & comparative literature. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $12,157 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $24,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Suffolk County Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $11,246. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $35,667. Set against $11,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College one of the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,170, compared with $8,050 for out-of-state students. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $8,794 in student loans. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $30,111 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,794 median debt.
Stony Brook University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $19,001 in student loans. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $24,407. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Suny At Albany ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,601, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $44,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
University At Buffalo came in at #9 for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $19,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $26,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Binghamton landed the #10 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,567, compared with $30,447 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $26,353. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Suny At Binghamton admits about 39% of applicants.
University Of Rochester came in at #11 for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,080 in tuition and fees. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $60,865 early in their careers. Set against $21,517 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell University came in at #12 for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $75,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
New York University landed the #13 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of New York University earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. Set against $21,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Syracuse University landed the #14 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
