[Portuguese](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/romance-languages/portuguese/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong portuguese education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 36 schools to find the best return on investment for portuguese students.
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Finding the Best Value Portuguese School for You
Where you study portuguese affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Portuguese Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Portuguese Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Our analysis ranked Cuny Queens College the best value for a degree in portuguese in the United States. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,538, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Students borrow a median of $12,157 to complete the portuguese program here. Early-career portuguese graduates make about $41,847. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Florida earned it the #2 place for portuguese. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the portuguese program here. Soon after graduation, portuguese degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Santa Barbara one of the best values for portuguese. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,444 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Students borrow a median of $16,261 to complete the portuguese program here. Soon after graduation, portuguese degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $45,488. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 33%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Utah State University earned it the #4 place for portuguese. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Portuguese graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, portuguese degree recipients from Utah State University generally make around $30,242. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the best values for portuguese. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Students borrow a median of $14,752 to complete the portuguese program here. Early-career portuguese graduates make about $26,966. That is a strong return on a $14,752 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value portuguese schools. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for portuguese graduates is $13,219. Early-career portuguese graduates make about $40,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #7 for value in portuguese this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for portuguese graduates is $17,677. Soon after graduation, portuguese degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $17,677 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #8 spot for portuguese value this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $21,800 to complete the portuguese program here. Early-career portuguese graduates make about $38,942. That is a strong return on a $21,800 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Florida International University landed the #9 spot for portuguese value this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Students borrow a median of $30,945 to complete the portuguese program here. Portuguese graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $52,517 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Harvard University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value portuguese schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Portuguese graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Portuguese graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #11 position for value in portuguese this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for portuguese graduates is $14,000. Soon after graduation, portuguese degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $33,307. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #12 position for value in portuguese this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the portuguese program here. Portuguese graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $35,720 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for portuguese. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Typical student debt for portuguese graduates is $15,187. Soon after graduation, portuguese degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $32,236. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in portuguese this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for portuguese graduates is $22,746. Early-career portuguese graduates make about $27,815. Set against $22,746 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Boise State University earned the #15 position for value in portuguese this year. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Portuguese graduates carry a median of $24,098 in student loans. Portuguese graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $49,059 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #16 for value in portuguese this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Students borrow a median of $19,241 to complete the portuguese program here. Early-career portuguese graduates make about $57,819. That is a strong return on a $19,241 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value portuguese schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Portuguese graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Portuguese graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa earned the #18 position for value in portuguese this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Portuguese graduates carry a median of $23,702 in student loans. Soon after graduation, portuguese degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $57,375. Set against $23,702 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #19 position for value in portuguese this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Portuguese graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Portuguese graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $31,335 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #20 spot for portuguese value this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Portuguese graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Early-career portuguese graduates make about $53,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Smith College placed #21 among the best values for portuguese. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. In-state tuition and fees average $65,178. Portuguese graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, portuguese degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $35,407. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Dartmouth College earned the #22 position for value in portuguese this year. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,019. Portuguese graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans. Portuguese graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $81,992 early in their careers. Set against $16,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University landed the #23 spot for portuguese value this year. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,089. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the portuguese program here. Soon after graduation, portuguese degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $79,632. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 13%.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
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).
[Portuguese](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/romance-languages/portuguese/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong portuguese education at a price that pays off.
