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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools in Illinois

10 Colleges in the United States
408 Foreign Languages & Linguistics Degrees Awarded
$47,883 Avg Early-Career Salary

Foreign Languages & Linguistics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 49 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for foreign languages & linguistics students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Foreign Languages & Linguistics in Illinois

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 foreign languages & linguistics degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Foreign Languages & Linguistics

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Chicago this year for foreign languages & linguistics. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 78 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from University Of Chicago

2

Students looking for a strong foreign languages & linguistics program will find one at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,559. Get the full foreign languages & linguistics details for University Of Illinois At Chicago

3

Loyola University Chicago came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 21 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. Students borrow a median of $22,698 to complete this degree. Read more about the foreign languages & linguistics program at Loyola University Chicago

4

Students looking for a strong foreign languages & linguistics program will find one at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 108 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $33,845 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,092 to complete this degree. Get the full foreign languages & linguistics details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

5

Students looking for a strong foreign languages & linguistics program will find one at Benedictine University, which ranked #5. Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 28 foreign languages & linguistics degrees were awarded at Benedictine University in the most recent year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $54,212 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,338. See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for Benedictine University

6

Northern Illinois University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. Northern Illinois University awarded about 17 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $40,586 early in their careers. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Get the full foreign languages & linguistics details for Northern Illinois University

7

Wheaton College Illinois placed #7 among the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. Wheaton College Illinois graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent data year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $37,025 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,650 to complete this degree. See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for Wheaton College Illinois

8

Illinois State University came in at #8 for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their foreign languages & linguistics degree from Illinois State University earn around $49,448 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans. Get the full foreign languages & linguistics details for Illinois State University

9

Southwestern Illinois College landed the #9 spot for foreign languages & linguistics this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Belleville. Southwestern Illinois College awarded about 40 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $44,345. Southwestern Illinois College graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Southwestern Illinois College

10

Elgin Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. There were roughly 10 foreign languages & linguistics students who graduated with this degree at Elgin Community College in the most recent data year. Foreign Languages & Linguistics graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Elgin Community College graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Read more about the foreign languages & linguistics program at Elgin Community College

11

Moraine Valley Community College earned the #11 position for foreign languages & linguistics this year. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. Moraine Valley Community College awarded about 10 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the foreign languages & linguistics program make about $43,844 in their early career. Moraine Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. More information about a degree in foreign languages & linguistics from Moraine Valley Community College

12

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best foreign languages & linguistics schools. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. About 60% of students finish within six years. Southern Illinois University Carbondale awarded about 23 foreign languages & linguistics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, foreign languages & linguistics degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $25,921. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. See the full foreign languages & linguistics program report for Southern Illinois University Carbondale

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 49 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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