2026 Best Value Foreign Languages & Linguistics Master’s Degree Schools

1

Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY

For return on investment in foreign languages & linguistics, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $15,523 in student loans. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $27,219. Set against $15,523 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.

2

Princeton University
Princeton, NJ

Students looking for strong value in foreign languages & linguistics will find it at Princeton University, which ranked #2. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $67,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.

3

California State University Fresno
Fresno, CA

California State University Fresno is a great value for students pursuing a degree in foreign languages & linguistics, landing the #3 spot this year. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Students from in state pay about $7,341 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $20,070. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.

4

University Of South Florida Main Campus
Tampa, FL

University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $28,658 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,500 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.

5

The University Of Texas Pan American
Edinburg, TX

The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $12,633 in student loans. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $27,138 early in their careers. Set against $12,633 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.

6

California State University Long Beach
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach earned the #6 position for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $10,967. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $18,939. That is a strong return on a $10,967 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.

7

New Mexico State University Main Campus
Las Cruces, NM

New Mexico State University Main Campus placed #7 among the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $19,125. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from New Mexico State University Main Campus generally make around $27,720. Set against $19,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.

8

The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin
Odessa, TX

The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin came in at #8 for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Odessa. Students from in state pay about $9,607 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $20,052. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin generally make around $60,503. That is a strong return on a $20,052 median debt. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin admits about 95% of applicants.

9

Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University placed #9 among the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Students borrow a median of $19,019 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $28,901. That is a strong return on a $19,019 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.

10

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.

11

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #11 spot for foreign languages & linguistics value this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Students borrow a median of $14,815 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $24,658. That is a strong return on a $14,815 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.

12

University Of Illinois At Chicago
Chicago, IL

University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,559 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.

13

University Of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL

University Of North Florida ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,964 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $18,523. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $58,017. That is a strong return on a $18,523 median debt. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.

14

University Of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

University Of California Los Angeles landed the #14 spot for foreign languages & linguistics value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $14,610 in student loans. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $26,449 early in their careers. Set against $14,610 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.

15

University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras
San Juan, PR

University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public school located in the city of San Juan. In-state tuition and fees average $5,324. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $9,605. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.

16

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

Arizona State University came in at #16 for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $20,677 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $42,436. That is a strong return on a $20,677 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.

17

Texas A And M University Commerce
Commerce, TX

Texas A And M University Commerce earned the #17 position for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,026, compared with $22,326 for out-of-state students. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $23,796 in student loans. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $54,201. That is a strong return on a $23,796 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.

18

University Of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT

University Of Utah ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,715 to complete the foreign languages & linguistics program here. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $41,691 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,715 median debt. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.

19

West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV

West Virginia University landed the #19 spot for foreign languages & linguistics value this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $20,916. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $32,684. That is a strong return on a $20,916 median debt. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.

20

University Of Georgia
Athens, GA

University Of Georgia ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $22,655 in student loans. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $30,018. Set against $22,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.

21

Brigham Young University Provo
Provo, UT

Brigham Young University Provo came in at #21 for value in foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $9,668 in student loans. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $47,544. That is a strong return on a $9,668 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.

22

University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Honolulu, HI

University Of Hawaii At Manoa ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,186, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $21,313. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $24,451. That is a strong return on a $21,313 median debt. University Of Hawaii At Manoa admits about 87% of applicants.

23

Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ

Montclair State University placed #23 among the best values for foreign languages & linguistics. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,912 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for foreign languages & linguistics graduates is $25,788. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $42,390. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.

24

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $21,092 in student loans. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $31,501. Set against $21,092 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.

25

Indiana University Bloomington
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Bloomington ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates carry a median of $17,465 in student loans. Early-career foreign languages & linguistics graduates make about $29,902. Set against $17,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.