by our College Data Analytics TeamLearn the essential details every linguistics and computer science major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering linguistics and computer science programs.
In the U.S., linguistics and computer science is a widely-pursued major, with 7 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Linguistics and Computer Science Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for linguistics and computer science students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of linguistics and computer science programs later in this article.
Studies in Linguistics and Computer Science build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations linguistics and computer science graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a linguistics and computer science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a linguistics and computer science major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several linguistics and computer science degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 7 |
People currently working in careers related to linguistics and computer science tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 35.0% |
| Master’s degree | 32.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 26.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in linguistics and computer science careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in linguistics and computer science can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to linguistics and computer science.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to linguistics and computer science.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,328,652 | -4.2% |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Clinical Data Managers | 300,656 | -0.9% |
| Software Developers | 145,079 | 13.5% |
Salaries for linguistics and computer science graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers linguistics and computer science grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Data Scientists | $106,295 |
| Clinical Data Managers | $99,475 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
| Software Developers | $76,447 |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $35,659 |
With 2 different linguistics and computer science programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased linguistics and computer science school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in linguistics and computer science, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Linguistics and Computer Science | 7 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 30,141 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 28,033 |
| Data Analytics | 12,891 |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 10,355 |
| Data Science | 7,716 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5,740 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 5,456 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 5,391 |
| Sustainability Studies | 4,374 |
| Cognitive Science | 3,121 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
