Foreign Languages & Linguistics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1299 schools to find the best for foreign languages & linguistics students.
Brown University tops our 2026 ranking of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Brown University awarded about 39 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
Read more about the foreign languages & linguistics program at Brown University
Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in foreign languages & linguistics, ranking #2. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 35 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $100,827 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Stanford University
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 68 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $63,111 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete this degree.
Get the full foreign languages & linguistics details for Purdue University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong foreign languages & linguistics program will find one at Dartmouth College, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 49 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from Dartmouth College earn around $81,992 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete this degree.
Get the full foreign languages & linguistics details for Dartmouth College
University Of Chicago came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
Read more about the foreign languages & linguistics program at University Of Chicago
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #6 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $83,560 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Texas Christian University came in at #7 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Texas Christian University graduates 85% of students within six years. Texas Christian University awarded about 15 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $60,035. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans.
Get the full foreign languages & linguistics details for Texas Christian University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #8 position for foreign languages & linguistics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 99 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #9 among the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 69 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $38,269. Students borrow a median of $14,050 to complete this degree.
See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #10 spot for foreign languages & linguistics this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 47 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for University Of Pennsylvania
Harvard University placed #11 among the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. There were roughly 35 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $95,207 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Harvard University
Princeton University came in at #12 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 55 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from Princeton University earn around $67,532 in the first couple years of their career. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
Read more about the foreign languages & linguistics program at Princeton University
Yale University landed the #13 spot for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. Yale University awarded about 31 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $74,578 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Yale University
New York University came in at #14 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 57 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $42,500 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for New York University
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #15 position for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 112 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $54,327. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Columbia University In The City Of New York
San Jose State University landed the #16 spot for foreign languages & linguistics this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 30 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from San Jose State University
Georgetown University came in at #17 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 66 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $37,761. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for Georgetown University
Cornell University landed the #18 spot for foreign languages & linguistics this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 44 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $33,419 early in their careers. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Cornell University
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 177 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $28,215. Students borrow a median of $14,610 to complete this degree.
Read more about the foreign languages & linguistics program at University Of California Los Angeles
Middlebury College earned the #20 position for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Set in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Middlebury College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Middlebury College generally make around $48,396. Students borrow a median of $15,948 to complete this degree.
See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for Middlebury College
University Of California Berkeley landed the #21 spot for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 125 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $35,096 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,334 to complete this degree.
See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for University Of California Berkeley
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 69 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $35,409 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,286 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from University Of Missouri Columbia
Washington State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Pullman. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 22 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Washington State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $54,697 in their early career. Washington State University graduates carry a median of $21,903 in student loans.
See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for Washington State University
Southern Methodist University earned the #24 position for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Southern Methodist University awarded about 35 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $57,858. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $19,730 in student loans.
See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for Southern Methodist University
University Of Rochester came in at #25 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rochester. University Of Rochester graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Rochester awarded about 25 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $60,865 in their early career. University Of Rochester graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans.
Get the full foreign languages & linguistics details for University Of Rochester
Rest of the Top 50 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s foreign languages & linguistics ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1299 schools evaluated.
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).
