2026 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Linguistics & Comparative Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong linguistics & comparative literature education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 44 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools.
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2026 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in linguistics & comparative literature, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City tops our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,630, compared with $9,600 for out-of-state students. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $12,281 in student loans. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $46,660 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Truman State University one of the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Set in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,838, while out-of-state students pay about $18,566. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $23,168. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Truman State University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Truman State University admits about 84% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Nebraska At Omaha one of the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $33,828. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fort Hays State University earned it the #5 place for linguistics & comparative literature. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. Students from in state pay about $5,923 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $25,967 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Fort Hays State University generally make around $49,775. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fort Hays State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Johnson County Community College earned the #6 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $13,532 in student loans. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Johnson County Community College generally make around $46,473. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #7 position for value in linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $18,706 in student loans. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $28,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,706 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Kansas landed the #8 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $23,608. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. Set against $23,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the linguistics & comparative literature program here. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $29,830. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $23,091 in student loans. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $51,543 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,091 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Iowa State University placed #11 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $24,793. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $25,065. That is a strong return on a $24,793 median debt. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #12 spot for linguistics & comparative literature value this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $19,286. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $35,409. That is a strong return on a $19,286 median debt. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Iowa placed #13 among the best values for linguistics & comparative literature. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $27,000. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $57,375. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 44 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
