2026 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools in Massachusetts
[Linguistics & Comparative Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for linguistics & comparative literature students.
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2026 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools in Massachusetts
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
Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 best value for linguistics & comparative literature in Massachusetts. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $59,206 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Boston admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a great value for students pursuing a degree in linguistics & comparative literature, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $20,334. Set against $25,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Boston University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $63,598. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Northeastern University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in linguistics & comparative literature, landing the #5 spot this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Students borrow a median of $25,611 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $74,800. Set against $25,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
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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 · 23 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.
