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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Linguistics & Comparative Literature Schools in the Great Lakes Region

11 Colleges in the United States
511 Linguistics & Comparative Literature Degrees Awarded
$44,887 Avg Early-Career Salary

Linguistics & Comparative Literature degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 76 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for linguistics & comparative literature students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Linguistics & Comparative Literature in the Great Lakes Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the linguistics & comparative literature degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Linguistics & Comparative Literature

1

University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in linguistics & comparative literature. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. About 22 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in linguistics & comparative literature from University Of Chicago

2
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $63,111 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844. Get the full linguistics & comparative literature details for Purdue University Main Campus

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the top schools for linguistics & comparative literature. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 28 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $27,699 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,124 to complete this degree. Get the full linguistics & comparative literature details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for linguistics & comparative literature. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 25 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $59,877 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in linguistics & comparative literature from University Of Wisconsin Madison

5

Benedictine University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in linguistics & comparative literature, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Benedictine University awarded about 25 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from Benedictine University earn around $54,212 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,338. More information about a degree in linguistics & comparative literature from Benedictine University

6

Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 49 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $27,788 in their early career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,096 in student loans. Read more about the linguistics & comparative literature program at Ohio State University Main Campus

7
Cedarville University crest
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH

Cedarville University came in at #7 for linguistics & comparative literature this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Cedarville. About 72% of students finish within six years. Cedarville University awarded about 14 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $57,104. Typical student debt for the program is $22,110. See the full linguistics & comparative literature program report for Cedarville University

8

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Linguistics & Comparative Literature graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $25,921 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in linguistics & comparative literature from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

9
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University came in at #9 for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. About 81% of students finish within six years. Michigan State University awarded about 28 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $54,166. Students borrow a median of $24,915 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in linguistics & comparative literature from Michigan State University

10
Oberlin College crest
Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH

Oberlin College landed the #10 spot for linguistics & comparative literature this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Oberlin. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Oberlin College awarded about 10 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from Oberlin College earn around $25,146 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,759 to complete this degree. See the full linguistics & comparative literature program report for Oberlin College

11

University Of Toledo placed #11 among the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. This large public university is located in the city of Toledo. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Toledo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $52,675 in their early career. University Of Toledo graduates carry a median of $24,923 in student loans. Read more about the linguistics & comparative literature program at University Of Toledo

12

University Of Southern Indiana landed the #12 spot for linguistics & comparative literature this year. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. About 48% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern Indiana in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from University Of Southern Indiana earn around $47,216 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,999 to complete this degree. See the full linguistics & comparative literature program report for University Of Southern Indiana

13

Indiana University Bloomington came in at #13 for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,123. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $18,635 in student loans. Read more about the linguistics & comparative literature program at Indiana University Bloomington

14

Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #14 for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public institution. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne generally make around $49,424. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne graduates carry a median of $24,119 in student loans. See the full linguistics & comparative literature program report for Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne

15

Elgin Community College earned the #15 position for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Elgin Community College awarded about 10 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from Elgin Community College earn around $43,975 in the first couple years of their career. Elgin Community College graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. See the full linguistics & comparative literature program report for Elgin Community College

16

Waukesha County Technical College placed #16 among the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. There were roughly 12 linguistics & comparative literature students who graduated with this degree at Waukesha County Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from Waukesha County Technical College earn around $46,398 in the first couple years of their career. Waukesha County Technical College graduates carry a median of $16,595 in student loans. See the full linguistics & comparative literature program report for Waukesha County Technical College

17

Kent State University At Kent placed #17 among the best linguistics & comparative literature schools. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Kent State University At Kent graduates 64% of students within six years. About 41 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $44,776 in their early career. Kent State University At Kent graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Read more about the linguistics & comparative literature program at Kent State University At Kent

18

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #18 spot for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates 53% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee awarded about 23 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $34,935 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,479. Get the full linguistics & comparative literature details for University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

19
Oakland University crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI

Oakland University landed the #19 spot for linguistics & comparative literature this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. About 58% of students finish within six years. Oakland University awarded about 11 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their linguistics & comparative literature degree from Oakland University earn around $54,785 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,972 to complete this degree. Read more about the linguistics & comparative literature program at Oakland University

20

Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #20 spot for linguistics & comparative literature this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Milwaukee. About 18 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Milwaukee Area Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, linguistics & comparative literature degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $38,325. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete this degree. Get the full linguistics & comparative literature details for Milwaukee Area Technical College

21

Wayne State University earned the #21 position for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wayne State University awarded about 21 linguistics & comparative literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $20,939 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,924. Read more about the linguistics & comparative literature program at Wayne State University

22

Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #22 position for linguistics & comparative literature this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 23 linguistics & comparative literature degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Graduates of the linguistics & comparative literature program make about $25,921 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete this degree. Get the full linguistics & comparative literature details for Southern Illinois University Carbondale

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 76 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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