Grad school · Languages and linguistics

Linguistics graduate programs: earnings and debt by school

129 colleges award master's degrees in linguistics. Graduates of the typical program earned $49,566 a year after finishing, and those who borrowed left with a median of $20,500 in federal loans taken at the school.

Master's programs129

Graduates in 2023-241,017

Typical median debt$20,500

Typical earnings 1 yr after$49,566

Typical earnings 4 yrs after$67,132

Earnings to debt2.4x

Official field: Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. Admission figures such as LSAT, MCAT or GRE scores are not part of this federal data, so check each school.

Degree level	Programs	Typical earnings 1 yr after	Typical median debt
Master's	129	$49,566	$20,500
Doctoral	75	n/a	n/a

Is it worth it? Debt vs first-year pay

Each dot is one master's program. Dots above the dashed line have graduates earning more in their first year than the program's median debt.

Master's programs in linguistics

Highest first-year earnings

University of Massachusetts-Boston$54,404

Kent State University at Kent$51,996

New York University$47,135

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign$44,961

Filter by school, city or state

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
University of Massachusetts-BostonBoston, MA	39	$54,404	$67,132	$20,500
Kent State University at KentKent, OH	29	$51,996	n/a	n/a
New York UniversityNew York, NY	18	$47,135	n/a	n/a
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL	22	$44,961	n/a	n/a
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Benedictine UniversityLisle, IL	25	n/a	n/a	n/a
Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston UniversityBoston, MA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brigham Young UniversityProvo, UT	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brown UniversityProvidence, RI	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
CUNY City CollegeNew York, NY	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNew York, NY	27	n/a	n/a	n/a
CUNY Hunter CollegeNew York, NY	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
CUNY Queens CollegeQueens, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-FresnoFresno, CA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-FullertonFullerton, CA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, CA	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-NorthridgeNorthridge, CA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Central Connecticut State UniversityNew Britain, CT	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
East Texas A&M UniversityCommerce, TX	21	n/a	n/a	n/a
Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MI	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton, FL	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Florida International UniversityMiami, FL	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC	27	n/a	n/a	n/a
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA	20	n/a	n/a	n/a
Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, GA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
La Salle UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Lamar UniversityBeaumont, TX	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA	19	n/a	n/a	n/a
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersville, PA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Missouri State University-SpringfieldSpringfield, MO	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Montclair State UniversityMontclair, NJ	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC	17	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northeastern Illinois UniversityChicago, IL	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oakland UniversityRochester Hills, MI	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ohio University-Main CampusAthens, OH	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Plymouth State UniversityPlymouth, NH	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stanford UniversityStanford, CA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas A & M International UniversityLaredo, TX	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TX	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of MontanaMissoula, MT	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburg, TX	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TX	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso, TX	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ArizonaTucson, AZ	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-DavisDavis, CA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA	16	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ChicagoChicago, IL	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of DelawareNewark, DE	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of FloridaGainesville, FL	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of GeorgiaAthens, GA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of HoustonHouston, TX	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of IowaIowa City, IA	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KansasLawrence, KS	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KentuckyLexington, KY	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, MA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nebraska at OmahaOmaha, NE	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerque, NM	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North DakotaGrand Forks, ND	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North TexasDenton, TX	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Northern ColoradoGreeley, CO	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of OregonEugene, OR	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasSan Juan, PR	29	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of RochesterRochester, NY	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia, SC	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of South FloridaTampa, FL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, NC	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
West Chester University of PennsylvaniaWest Chester, PA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV	26	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT	11	n/a	n/a	n/a

Doctoral programs in linguistics

Filter by school, city or state

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNew York, NY	15	n/a	$84,478	n/a
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston UniversityBoston, MA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brown UniversityProvidence, RI	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC	19	n/a	n/a	n/a
Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-PonceMercedita, PR	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Kent State University at KentKent, OH	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
New York UniversityNew York, NY	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stanford UniversityStanford, CA	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TX	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ArizonaTucson, AZ	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-DavisDavis, CA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ChicagoChicago, IL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of DelawareNewark, DE	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of FloridaGainesville, FL	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of GeorgiaAthens, GA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of IowaIowa City, IA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KansasLawrence, KS	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, MA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Massachusetts-BostonBoston, MA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerque, NM	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of OregonEugene, OR	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia, SC	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of South FloridaTampa, FL	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT	11	n/a	n/a	n/a

Frequently asked questions

How much do linguistics graduates earn?

Graduates of the typical master's program earned a median of $49,566 one year after finishing, in 2024 dollars.

How much debt do linguistics graduate students take on?

The typical program's graduates who borrowed left with a median of $20,500 in federal loans taken at that school. Undergraduate loans are not included.

Undergraduate: Linguistics major

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.