2026 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools in Tennessee
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 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 Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in linguistics & comparative literature, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools
Middle Tennessee State University tops our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools in Tennessee. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $21,187. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $34,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga one of the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. Students from in state pay about $10,448 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $23,324 in student loans. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $50,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,324 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Memphis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in linguistics & comparative literature, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $23,533. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
A rank of #4 makes East Tennessee State University one of the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $21,301 in student loans. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $45,444. That is a strong return on a $21,301 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in linguistics & comparative literature will find it at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Students borrow a median of $20,612 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $31,713 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
