2026 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools in Virginia
[Linguistics & Comparative Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/) 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 16 schools to find the best return on investment for linguistics & comparative literature students.
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2026 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools in Virginia
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 Old Dominion University, our #1 best value for linguistics & comparative literature in Virginia. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $57,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes George Mason University one of the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $21,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $40,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Virginia Commonwealth University one of the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $30,635. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Mary Washington came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Located in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,905 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,083. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Mary Washington generally make around $43,243. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. University Of Mary Washington admits about 80% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in linguistics & comparative literature will find it at James Madison University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Students borrow a median of $18,398 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $45,122 early in their careers. Set against $18,398 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. James Madison University admits about 72% of applicants.
Christopher Newport University landed the #6 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Newport News. Students from in state pay about $16,828 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,178. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $25,094. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $41,656. That is a strong return on a $25,094 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
College Of William And Mary landed the #7 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $25,734 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $51,038. Students borrow a median of $18,935 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $53,338 early in their careers. Set against $18,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 34%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #8 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $22,500. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $37,389. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University placed #9 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,414 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $45,877 early in their careers. Set against $27,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
