Linguistic and Comparative Language Studies

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)
$33,431
Median Earnings
$50,571
Schools Offering
101
ROI Grade
C

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $42,922Median: $50,57175th: $55,778

Best Schools for Linguistic and Comparative Language Studies by Earnings

#School4yr Earnings
1Duke University
NC · Private
$88,098
2Brandeis University
MA · Private
$78,746
3Emory University
GA · Private
$76,993
4University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
$76,724
5Virginia Military Institute
VA · Public
$73,971
6Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
VA · Public
$68,263
7Texas A&M University-College Station
TX · Public
$66,241
8Michigan State University
MI · Public
$65,667
9Georgetown University
DC · Private
$65,574
10Stony Brook University
NY · Public
$64,547
11University of California-Los Angeles
CA · Public
$62,927
12James Madison University
VA · Public
$62,366
13University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
IL · Public
$61,774
14University of California-Santa Barbara
CA · Public
$61,580
15University of Missouri-Columbia
MO · Public
$61,080
16Rutgers University-New Brunswick
NJ · Public
$60,883
17Brigham Young University
UT · Private
$60,469
18North Carolina State University at Raleigh
NC · Public
$60,031
19The University of Texas at Austin
TX · Public
$59,742
20George Mason University
VA · Public
$58,931
21University of California-Davis
CA · Public
$58,443
22Ashford University
CA · Private
$56,666
23Appalachian State University
NC · Public
$55,778
24University of California-San Diego
CA · Public
$55,776
25Colorado State University-Fort Collins
CO · Public
$55,647
26University of Washington-Seattle Campus
WA · Public
$55,540
27University of Southern Maine
ME · Public
$55,435
28Montana State University
MT · Public
$55,352
29University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
MI · Public
$55,137
30The University of Texas at Dallas
TX · Public
$54,985
31Northern Arizona University
AZ · Public
$54,276
32Binghamton University
NY · Public
$54,215
33University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NC · Public
$54,181
34Christopher Newport University
VA · Public
$53,564
35Gordon College
MA · Private
$53,475
36Western Illinois University
IL · Public
$53,453
37University of Mary Washington
VA · Public
$53,282
38Ramapo College of New Jersey
NJ · Public
$53,085
39University of Arizona
AZ · Public
$52,805
40The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
TN · Public
$52,703
41Clemson University
SC · Public
$52,044
42Portland State University
OR · Public
$51,925
43Stephen F Austin State University
TX · Public
$51,494
44University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
PA · Public
$51,416
45Metropolitan State University of Denver
CO · Public
$50,926
46Hofstra University
NY · Private
$50,571
47University of California-Santa Cruz
CA · Public
$49,763
48California State University-San Bernardino
CA · Public
$49,732
49San Francisco State University
CA · Public
$48,959
50Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
PA · Public
$48,495
Below Average Value

Is Linguistic and Comparative Language Studies Worth It?

Proceed With a Plan

The financial returns for Linguistic and Comparative Language Studies are below average. At $33,431 in average earnings four years out, graduates often face a long payback period, especially at higher-cost institutions. This doesn't mean the field is worthless - it means the financial math demands careful attention to school cost and debt levels.

101 schools offer this major, giving you reasonable options. Compare net prices and graduate earnings at your specific target schools - the range between the best and worst ROI within this field is substantial.

The top school for this major by earnings is Duke University, where graduates earn $88,098 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.