2026 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools in Iowa

[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.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value linguistics & comparative literature schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in linguistics & comparative literature, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools
Our analysis ranked Iowa State University the best value for a degree in linguistics & comparative literature in Iowa. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates carry a median of $24,793 in student loans. Early-career linguistics & comparative literature graduates make about $25,065. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Iowa is a great value for students pursuing a degree in linguistics & comparative literature, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Typical student debt for linguistics & comparative literature graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $57,375. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
More Linguistics & Comparative Literature Rankings
View All Linguistics & Comparative Literature Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.