Romance Languages is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1003 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for romance languages students pursuing a degree.
Leading the list is Purdue University Main Campus, our #1 school for romance languages. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 36 romance languages degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, romance languages degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans.
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Dartmouth College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in romance languages, landing the #2 spot this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 23 romance languages students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the romance languages program make about $81,992 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,989.
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A rank of #3 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the top schools for romance languages. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 53 romance languages students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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Texas Christian University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in romance languages, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 romance languages degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, romance languages degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $60,035. Students borrow a median of $22,960 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top schools for romance languages. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 49 romance languages students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Romance Languages graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $38,269 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,050 to complete this degree.
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Princeton University placed #6 among the best romance languages schools. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. Princeton University awarded about 12 romance languages degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the romance languages program make about $67,532 in their early career. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
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San Jose State University came in at #7 for romance languages this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 10 romance languages degrees in the most recent data year.
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Georgetown University came in at #8 for romance languages this year. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 13 romance languages degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the romance languages program make about $46,190 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
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University Of California Berkeley placed #9 among the best romance languages schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 46 romance languages degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the romance languages program make about $40,818 in their early career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $11,593 in student loans.
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University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best romance languages schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 40 romance languages students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, romance languages degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $35,635. Typical student debt for the program is $16,261.
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Washington State University landed the #11 spot for romance languages this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 romance languages degrees were awarded at Washington State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the romance languages program make about $54,697 in their early career. Washington State University graduates carry a median of $21,903 in student loans.
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Southern Methodist University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best romance languages schools. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 romance languages students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the romance languages program make about $57,858 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,730 to complete this degree.
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University Of Central Florida came in at #13 for romance languages this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. University Of Central Florida awarded about 16 romance languages degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their romance languages degree from University Of Central Florida earn around $51,790 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #14 for romance languages this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 43 romance languages degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, romance languages degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,543. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #15 spot for romance languages this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 46 romance languages degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, romance languages degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $22,803. Students borrow a median of $17,677 to complete this degree.
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Macalester College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best romance languages schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. Macalester College graduates 87% of students within six years. About 10 romance languages degrees were awarded at Macalester College in the most recent year. Students who receive their romance languages degree from Macalester College earn around $42,517 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,147 to complete this degree.
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University Of Southern California came in at #17 for romance languages this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 romance languages degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, romance languages degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Students borrow a median of $20,380 to complete this degree.
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California State University Stanislaus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best romance languages schools. California State University Stanislaus is a large public school located in the suburb of Turlock. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 24 romance languages degrees were awarded at California State University Stanislaus in the most recent year. Students who receive their romance languages degree from California State University Stanislaus earn around $46,807 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Stanislaus graduates carry a median of $14,813 in student loans.
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University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #19 for romance languages this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates 75% of students within six years. About 20 romance languages degrees were awarded at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the romance languages program make about $58,084 in their early career. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates carry a median of $20,405 in student loans.
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University Of California Irvine landed the #20 spot for romance languages this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 romance languages students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, romance languages degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $36,692. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #21 spot for romance languages this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 76 romance languages degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their romance languages degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $35,720 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,250.
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University Of Florida earned the #22 position for romance languages this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 33 romance languages degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Romance Languages graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $27,578 early in their careers. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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University Of California Merced landed the #23 spot for romance languages this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Merced. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. University Of California Merced awarded about 13 romance languages degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, romance languages degree recipients from University Of California Merced generally make around $42,071. University Of California Merced graduates carry a median of $18,318 in student loans.
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College Of The Holy Cross earned the #24 position for romance languages this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Worcester. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 romance languages students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Holy Cross in the most recent data year. Graduates of the romance languages program make about $52,210 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,975 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best romance languages schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 romance languages students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Romance Languages 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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Rest of the Top 50 Romance Languages Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong romance languages education:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1003 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).
