French Language & Literature programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 544 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best french language & literature schools.
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Choosing a Great French Language & Literature School
The school you choose for french language & literature can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for French Language & Literature rankings. For our Best Overall French Language & Literature School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
French Language & Literature Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best French Language & Literature Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best french language & literature schools. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 18 french language & literature degrees in the most recent data year.
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New York University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in french language & literature, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 10 french language & literature degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete this degree.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in french language & literature, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 25 french language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. French Language & Literature graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $38,269 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,050.
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University Of California Berkeley is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in french language & literature, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 french language & literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who receive their french language & literature degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $40,818 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $11,593 in student loans.
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Drexel University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in french language & literature, ranking #5. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Drexel University graduates 78% of students within six years. About 12 french language & literature degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Graduates of the french language & literature program make about $63,106 in their early career. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #6 for french language & literature this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 22 french language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their french language & literature degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $54,327 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,250.
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Southern Methodist University placed #7 among the best french language & literature schools. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 12 french language & literature degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their french language & literature degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $57,858 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $19,730 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #8 position for french language & literature this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 61 french language & literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their french language & literature degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $35,720 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #9 among the best french language & literature schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Amherst. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 10 french language & literature degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Students who receive their french language & literature degree from University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn around $53,543 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Dakota placed #10 among the best french language & literature schools. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. University Of North Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 french language & literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Dakota in the most recent data year. French Language & Literature graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $64,378 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,110 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles earned the #11 position for french language & literature this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 11 french language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. French Language & Literature graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $26,966 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,752.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #12 among the best french language & literature schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 13 french language & literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their french language & literature degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $34,572 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $13,559 in student loans.
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University Of Rhode Island ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best french language & literature schools. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 18 french language & literature students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent data year. Graduates of the french language & literature program make about $59,220 in their early career. University Of Rhode Island graduates carry a median of $23,975 in student loans.
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Weber State University came in at #14 for french language & literature this year. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 31 french language & literature degrees were awarded at Weber State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the french language & literature program make about $27,989 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Connecticut landed the #15 spot for french language & literature this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 10 french language & literature degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. French Language & Literature graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $32,795 early in their careers. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $24,377 in student loans.
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Indiana University Bloomington placed #16 among the best french language & literature schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 french language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their french language & literature degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $33,307 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000.
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University Of Maryland College Park placed #17 among the best french language & literature schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 11 french language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $39,516. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans.
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Boise State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best french language & literature schools. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. Boise State University graduates 59% of students within six years. About 22 french language & literature degrees were awarded at Boise State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their french language & literature degree from Boise State University earn around $31,608 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,098 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #19 for french language & literature this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 french language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. French Language & Literature graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $27,815 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,746.
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University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #20 for french language & literature this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates 74% of students within six years. University Of Colorado Boulder awarded about 11 french language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $55,861. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans.
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Middlebury College earned the #21 position for french language & literature this year. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. Middlebury College graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 31 french language & literature students who graduated with this degree at Middlebury College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the french language & literature program make about $53,716 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,948.
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University Of Georgia earned the #22 position for french language & literature this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. About 13 french language & literature degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Graduates of the french language & literature program make about $33,169 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,760.
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Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #23 among the best french language & literature schools. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 french language & literature degrees were awarded at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $49,718. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
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University Of Iowa earned the #24 position for french language & literature this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 french language & literature degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, french language & literature degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $28,746. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $23,702 in student loans.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #25 spot for french language & literature this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 14 french language & literature degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the french language & literature program make about $29,617 in their early career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 32 French Language & Literature Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong french language & literature education:
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This ranking is produced 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 · 544 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).