Locating the best affordable linguistics degree programs for bachelor’s degrees will help undergrads save thousands of dollars on their study of language structures. Economical linguistics degree programs keep tuition low to train polyglots capable of speaking in several tongues with little debt. Therefore, linguistics majors can focus on learning how different cultures utilize language from childhood through adulthood. During the 1950s, Noam Chomsky notably became the “Father of Modern Linguistics” for his grammar and syntactic theories. Ever since, the number of colleges offering linguistics bachelor’s degrees has grown. Studying linguistics will develop some of Forbes’ 15 most important soft skills, including,
- communication
- active listening
- creative problem-solving
The Linguistic Society of America reports that more than 300 languages are spoken in North America. Globally, the number of distinct dialects skyrockets to 6,909. Chinese, Spanish, English, and Hindi are the most widespread. Getting a best-value linguistics degree teaches students to respect people’s diversity and interact in today’s multicultural workplaces.
Our Methodology
Affordable Schools wanted to talk about affordable colleges for linguistics degree programs that investigate how humans acquire language worldwide. We started by researching available bachelor’s on the National Center for Education Statistics database. Our staff checked the College Navigator’s boxes to find four-year undergrad linguistics degrees at U.S. schools. We organized an initial pool of 20 universities with this unique liberal arts major. Then, we dove into the average tuition prices listed for 2018-19. We recorded the in-state cost of attendance for full-time students for one year of study. Though not factored in, we provided the annual out-of-state price for reference. Our team assigned point values to prioritize linguistics schools with $7,500 or lower costs. The following is the three-point rubric we followed to sort cost-effective linguistics degree options.
Points:
Under $7,500: 3 Points
$7,500 to $15,000: 2 Points
$15,001 and Up: 1 Point
The AS Staff doesn’t want students to compromise on quality for affordable linguistics degree completion though. So, we searched for each linguistics program in the Council on Higher Education Accreditation database. Regional accreditation shows students that schools meet high academic standards and qualify for federal financial aid. Accreditation is the best protection against diploma mills with worthless credits. Next, our team judged each institution’s student/faculty ratio. We recorded this proportion from the College Navigator tool to determine class size. Student/faculty ratios of 10:1 or less were preferred to keep linguistics majors engaged with plenty of professor interaction. Schools with smaller classes are more likely to offer hands-on opportunities, such as internships and linguistics research. Again, we assigned the schools one to three points for engagement and added the previous points. We kept only the 15 affordable colleges for linguistics degree programs with the most total points.
Points:
10:1 or Less: 3 Points
11:1 to 15:1: 2 Points
Greater Than 15:1: 1 Point
Ranking the 15 Best Affordable Colleges for a Linguistics Degree
15. Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH
Total Points: 3
Program Website
Cleveland State University is a public, state-assisted RU/H institution of the Horizon League. that generates $207.5 million annually by training 12,443 undergrad Vikings from 49 countries. In 2018, CSU’s Sigma Pi Sigma received the Chapter Project Award. Cleveland State has been awarded the Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence Award three times since 2015. Forbes ranked Cleveland State 252nd overall among research universities. CSU was named:
- America’s 395th best faculty on Niche
- 18th top public value by Brookings
- 253rd best college in Washington Monthly.
Cleveland State University is our ranking’s 15th most affordable college for linguistics degree programs with a $10,457 in-state average. The College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences grants a low-cost B.A. in Linguistics to answer central questions about language usage. The 120-credit, HLC-accredited curriculum fills eight semesters with courses from Maya Hieroglyphic Writing to French Phonetics. Undergrads can also:
- pursue the TESOL Endorsement
- engage with the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages
- join the Linguistics Association
- travel abroad from Ghana to Greece
- attend the Crossing Over International Symposium.
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $10,457
Out-of-State Tuition: $14,824
Student-Faculty Ratio: 17:1
14. University of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR
Total Points: 3
Program Website
Hosting the Community Language School for children aged 5-13 in Irby Hall, the University of Central Arkansas is a public, space-grant SLC member founded in 1907. It hosts the Community Language School for children aged 5-13. It budgets $187 million to educate 9,615 undergraduates from 22 countries. In 2006, Central Arkansas accepted the ACPA Commission II Outstanding Innovation Award. UCA received the Frank Cloud Award of Excellence twice in 1998 and 1999. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Central Arkansas 71st regionally. UCA was deemed America’s 214th best teaching college on Niche. It ranked 303rd top institution in Washington Monthly, and 262nd best value by College Factual.
The University of Central Arkansas claimed 14th place among affordable colleges for linguistics degree majors. Each 16-week semester, the College of Liberal Arts admits undergrads with an average 3.51 GPA into the affordable Linguistics Major (B.A.) to study speech patterns. The 120-credit, HLC-accredited path builds atop the EDGE Core with three specializations:
- language
- computer science
- teaching English language learners
Students may also:
- intern at Insight Enterprises
- enter the Schedler Honors College
- attend the Tournées Film Festival
- utilize the Language Learning Center
- explore Costa Rica.
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $8,752
Out-of-State Tuition: $15,275
Student-Faculty Ratio: 16:1
13. SUNY College at Oswego
Oswego, NY
Total Points: 3
Program Website
SUNY College at Oswego is a public, coed liberal arts school that’s invested $900 million in campus. It has 7,081 undergraduates from 40 countries. In 2019, SUNY Oswego won the Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion in International Education Award. It earned the 2019 Top Fulbright Producer Award from the State Department. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Oswego State 48th in the North. SUNYO was named
- America’s 227th best value by WalletHub
- 51st best party school on Niche
- 105th top university in Washington Monthly.
It hosts the Annual Colloquium on Hispanic Literature & Culture in 2019,
SUNY College at Oswego landed 13th among affordable colleges for linguistics degree majors with a $8,440 in-state price and 17:1 engagement ratio. At Marano Center, the Modern Languages & Literatures Department offers and affordable B.A. in Linguistics that studies the foundational properties of words and sentences. The 122-credit, MSCHE-accredited degree program covers topics from Sociolinguistics to Morphology. Students can also:
- join Phi Sigma Iota
- tutor for the ESL Genius Olympiad
- participate in International Coffee Hour
- earn the Ferdinand de Saussure Award
- teach in China
- intern with United Nations.
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $8,440
Out-of-State Tuition: $18,220
Student-Faculty Ratio: 17:1
12. San Jose State University
San Jose, CA
Total Points: 3
Program Website
San Jose State University is the West Coast’s oldest public, space-grant AASCU member, opened in 1857. 2,037 faculty teach 32,828 students from 65 countries. It has an 87 percent retention rate. In 2019, SJSU had two Diverse Issues in Higher Education Arthur Ashe Scholar Award recipients. San Jose won the 2019 California Water Conservation Champion Award. The U.S. News & World Report ranked San Jose State 33rd in the West. SJSU has:
- America’s 95th best career outcomes on WalletHub
- 61st top value in Money
- 46th most liberal academics on Niche
The university offers an affordable B.A. in Linguistics that increases students’ ability to process speech and understand written text. The 120-unit, WASC-accredited option integrates Silicon Valley courses like Semantics, Phonetics, and Typological Diversity. Other opportunities include:
- adding the Computational Linguistics Certificate
- exchanging to AJKU in Pakistan
- entering the CSU Research Competition
- joining Le Cercle Francais
- interning with Nuance
- becoming Yankley Scholars.
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $7,796
Out-of-State Tuition: $19,676
Student-Faculty Ratio: 27:1
11. Truman State University
Kirksville, MO
Total Points: 3
Program Website
Publishing the Green Hills Literary Lantern since 1990, Truman State University is a public, four-year COPLAC member. It is named for the 33rd U.S. President. It selectively admits 6,039 undergraduates from 48 nations. In 2019, Truman State received the CASE District VI Gold Award for Best Alumni Programs. TSU accepted the Great Lakes Valley Conference’s 2018 Academic Excellence Award. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Truman ninth in the Midwest Region. TSU was named:
- America’s 71st best value in Kiplinger’s
- 64th top choice for social mobility by Business First
- 68th best free application school on Niche.
Truman State University stands as the 11th most affordable university for linguistics degree specializations. It has 75 Linguistics (B.S.) majors studying how humans express thought verbally and in writing. The 120-credit, HLC-accredited curriculum mandates minimum 2.5 GPAs throughout courses from History of English to Literary Criticism. Undergrads of this affordable degree program may also:
- minor in Applied Linguistics
- intern with Bernstein Rein Advertising
- enter the Peace Corps Prep Program
- earn the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy
- attend the Clayton B. Ofstad Reading Series
- venture to Morocco.
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Science in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $7,749
Out-of-State Tuition: $14,601
Student-Faculty Ratio: 16:1
10. California State University-Chico
Chico, CA
Total Points: 3
Program Website
California State University-Chico is a public, master’s-level CCA member. It was founded in 1887. In 2019, Chico State won the CASE District VII Platinum Diversity Award of Excellence. CSU-Chico received the 2014 Second Nature Climate Innovation Award. The U.S. News & World Report ranked California State University-Chico 41st on the West Coast. Chico State was named:
- America’s 62nd best value in Money
- 119th top public university by Forbes
- 94th best Greek life college on Niche.
It is celebrating four decades of its American Language & Culture Institute,
California State University-Chico boasts our ranking’s 10th most affordable degree in linguistics. The College of Humanities & Fine Arts houses its low-cost Linguistics B.A. for undergrads interested in analyzing language form. The WASC-accredited program has selective 65.2 percent acceptance into 400-level major courses like Pedagogical Grammar and Cross-Cultural Language. Students can also:
- earn the Literary Editing Certificate
- publish the Watershed Review
- attend Writer’s Voice events
- pledge Sigma Tau Delta
- tour Rome
- become ESL Support Services mentors.
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $7,608
Out-of-State Tuition: $19,488
Student-Faculty Ratio: 25:1
9. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA
Total Points: 4
Program Website
San Diego State University is the third-oldest public, space-grant CSU constituent. It enrolls 30,165 undergraduates from 67 countries. In 2018, SDSU received its fifth Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence Award. San Diego State has Diverse Issues in Higher Education’s ninth most Hispanic graduates. The U.S. News & World Report ranked San Diego 127th nationwide. SDSU was named:
- America’s 247th best English school on Niche
- 79th top value in Money
- 235th best faculty by the CWUR
- Planning its 43rd Annual Linguistics Student Association Colloquium for Spring 2020,
It has hosted the Annual Linguistics Student Association Colloquium for more than 40 years. San Diego State University offers a best-value Linguistics B.A. for undergrads to learn universal properties of diverse dialects. This WASC-accredited major offers courses like Text Analytics and Oral Communication. Students can also:
- intern with The Rosetta Project
- attend Korean Culture Night
- utilize the Language Processing Lab
- join Umanisti
- earn the TESL Basic Certificate
- apply for the Eudora Welty Scholarship.
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $7,488
Out-of-State Tuition: $19,488
Student-Faculty Ratio: 25:1
8. CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY
Total Points: 4
Program Website
CUNY Brooklyn College is a public, four-year AAC&U member, established in 1930. It’s affiliated with the Endangered Language Alliance. It has an enrollment of nearly 15,000 students from 139 countries. In 2014, CUNY Brooklyn’s president won the NYSBA Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award. The college won the 2019 Teach Access NYC Curriculum Development Award. The U.S. News & World Report ranked CUNY Brooklyn 12th for bachelor’s degrees. The college was named America’s 51st best value in Forbes. It was the 209th top English department on Niche, and 55th best college by Washington Monthly.
CUNY Brooklyn offers a cheap B.A. Program in Linguistics for interdisciplinary training that analyzes human communication. The 120-credit, MSCHE-accredited curriculum reports an 82 percent retention retention in courses from Morphological Analysis to Artificial Intelligence. Majors have the opportunity to:
- join Linguistics Club
- participate in the Translation Poetry Slam
- undertake Ethyle R. Wolfe Institute research
- minor in Russian
- intern at the Brooklyn Museum
- spend three weeks in Sicily.
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $7,240
Out-of-State Tuition: $14,910
Student-Faculty Ratio: 16:1
7. CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NY
Total Points: 4
Program Website
CUNY Lehman College is a comprehensive, coed Bronx branch established in 1967. More than 14,130 students from 90 nations are enrolled. The college has an 86 percent retention rate. In 2018, CUNY Lehman received the Division III Diversity Spotlight Initiative Award. Lehman won a 2016 OLC Digital Learning Innovation Award. The U.S. News & World Report ranked CUNY Lehman the 37th top public Northern college. Lehman was honored for America’s 198th best English courses on Niche. It is 99th for best academics in Washington Monthly. It archives 42,000 full-text journals and 44,000 electronic books at Leonard Lief Library,
The School of Arts & Humanities launched the best-value Interdisciplinary Program in Linguistics (B.A.) to study how language is acquired. The 120-credit, MSCHE-accredited track challenges students in courses like Multilingual Journalism, Syntax, and Sociology of Language. Students can also:
- write for Lehman Today
- learn Filipino at Mount Saint Vincent
- continue for the Spanish M.A.
- join the CUNY Cultural Corps
- intern at the New York Language Center
- travel to countries like Jamaica and Japan.
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $7,210
Out-of-State Tuition: $14,880
Student-Faculty Ratio: 16:1
6. California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA
Total Points: 4
Program Website
California State University-Northridge is a public, state-assisted Big West member founded in 1958. It enrolls 34,900 undergraduates from more than 100 countries. In 2018, CSUN won its third straight Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence Award. It also received a 2016 Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Award. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Northridge 73rd on the West Coast. CSUN was named:
- America’s 124th best school by The Daily Beast
- 113rd best big college on Niche
- 235th top value by WalletHub
The College of Humanities has a November 30th deadline for incoming B.A. in Linguistics students with minimum 2950 Eligibility Index scores. The 120-unit, WASC-accredited program builds multilingual skills with courses like Language Varieties and Speech Science. Students may also:
- earn the TESL Certificate
- exchange to La Trobe University
- do research in the Center for Applied Linguistics
- join the International Phonetics Association
- pledge Sigma Tau Delta
- volunteer via United We Serve.
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $6,893
Out-of-State Tuition: $18,773
Student-Faculty Ratio: 26:1
5. California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA
Total Points: 4
Program Website
California State University-Fullerton is a public, Hispanic-serving BWC member formed in 1957. It has an enrollment of 39,774 students from 79 nations. In 2017, CSUF was given the Reginald Wilson Diversity Leadership Award. Diverse Issues in Higher Education featured CSU-Fullerton in its top five for minority students. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Fullerton State 221st nationwide. CSUF was named:
- America’s 84th top value in Money
- 94th best college by The Daily Beast
- 155th best communications school on Niche.
It’s Linguistics program includes the historical development of language families. The 120-unit, WASC-accredited low-cost degree program blends courses from Symbolic Logic to Cognitive Processes with at least 120 internship hours. Opportunities include:
- writing for The Anecdote
- attending the International Iliad Reading Festival
- presenting at the Linguistics Symposium
- joining Sigma Tau Delta
- studying in Johannesburg.
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $6,886
Out-of-State Tuition: $18,766
Student-Faculty Ratio: 25:1
4. California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
Total Points: 4
Program Website
California State University-Long Beach is a public, space-grant ASAIHL member. that’s endowed It enrolls 32,246 undergraduates in 82 majors. In 2016, CSULB earned the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation’s Eddy Award. Long Beach State won the 2018 UPCEA West Region Engagement Award. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Long Beach 26th regionally. CSULB was named:
- America’s 91st best public school by Forbes
- 184th top value in Kiplinger’s
- 121st best student life college on Niche.
The College of Liberal Arts offers an inexpensive B.A. in Linguistics that studies the discourse of various speech communities. The 120-unit, WASC-accredited sequence progresses through courses like Corpus Linguistics and Language Acquisition. Undergrads may also:
- utilize the Linguistics Recording Room
- celebrate Mother Language Day
- intern at The Smithsonian
- contribute to the Endangered Languages Project
- join Sigma Delta Pi.
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $6,798
Out-of-State Tuition: $18,678
Student-Faculty Ratio: 23:1
3. California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA
Total Points: 4
Program Website
California State University-Fresno is a public, doctoral-granting RU/H institution. It enrolls 22,189 undergraduates in 60 majors. In 2010, Fresno was the Islamic Cultural Center’s Spirit of Abraham Award recipient. Fresno State received a 2016 Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence Award. CSU-Fresno was named:
- America’s 66th best value in Money
- 82nd best athletics on Niche
- 181st most impactful research in Forbes.
It has hosted the Western Conference on Linguistics since 1988,
Founded in 1911, the College of Arts & Humanities provides an affordable B.A. program in Linguistics that investigates the mind-brain processes responsible for speech. The 120-credit, WASC-accredited path splits into four concentrations:
- general linguistics
- computational linguistics
- language studies
- Teaching English as a Second Language.
Majors may also:
- conduct research with the Indigenous Languages Group
- apply for the Keiko Weitzman Memorial Scholarship
- take the Shanghai Summer Program trip
- enter the Smittcamp Honors College.
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $6,587
Out-of-State Tuition: $18,467
Student-Faculty Ratio: 23:1
2. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT
Total Points: 4
Program Website
Brigham Young University is a nonprofit, research-based Mormon CIC member. It enrolls 30,843 undergraduates from 104 nations. In 2019, Brigham Young won a CASE District VII Platinum Award of Excellence. BYU accepted the American Library Association’s 2017 Innovation in Instruction Award. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Brigham Young University 191st for fine arts programs. BYU was named:
- America’s 67th top private college by Forbes
- 79th safest school on Niche
- 102nd best value in Money.
The College of Humanities has a 90 percent retention rate in its Linguistics Major (B.A.) that examines language meaning from a Christian worldview. The 120-credit, NWCCU-accredited option admits freshmen with an average 28 ACT score into courses from Text Processing to Theoretical Syntax. Students can also:
- intern with Sykes Enterprises
- conduct Second Language Acquisition Research Group projects
- semester in Ecuador
- write for Entremundos
- minor in Linguistic Computing.
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $5,620
Out-of-State Tuition: $5,620
Student-Faculty Ratio: 20:1
1. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL
Total Points: 4
Program Website
Florida Atlantic University is Southeast Florida’s oldest public, coed SUSF member. It enrolls 26,245 students from 133 countries.In 2017, FAU was awarded a Diversity in Organizations, Community and Nations Research Network Award. Florida Atlantic received the 2017 CUR Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Florida Atlantic 198th for liberal arts. It was named:
- America’s 83rd most diverse school on Niche
- 261st top value by College Factual
- 71st best choice in Financial Times
The College of Arts & Letters offers a low-cost B.A. in Linguistics. The program looks at how language reflects human cultures. The 120-credit, SACS-accredited major has core courses like Contrastive Phonology before four concentrations: English, French, Italian, and Spanish. Students may also:
- intern at the Max Planck Florida Institute
- add the Certificate in ESL Studies
- attend the Linguistics Data Consortium
- launch Language Development Lab projects
- visit Egypt.
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
In-State Tuition: $4,831
Out-of-State Tuition: $17,276
Student-Faculty Ratio: 24:1
Which Careers are Available with a Top-Value Linguistics Degree?
Graduates of affordable colleges for linguistics degree programs can say “Hola” or “Kon’nichiwa” to exciting careers in highly diverse fields that use language. For example, linguists conduct scientific research on semantics to revitalize indigenous languages. Literary translators change written text from one language to another to reach broad global audiences. Legal interpreters tell non-English speakers what’s said in the courtroom during their judicial proceedings. Sign language interpreters use ASL to translate verbal speech for deaf individuals. Adult literacy teachers help immigrants assimilate into society by learning to read, write, and speak English. Lexicographers closely study the meanings of words and phrases to publish accurate dictionaries. Technical writers use their linguistic ability to create instruction manuals for complex products and software. Linguistic degrees can also produce:
- copywriters
- archivists
- librarians
- editorial managers
- information officers
- proofreaders
- speech therapists
- authors.
How Much Money Do Affordable Linguistics Degree Graduates Earn?
Enrolling at the most affordable university for linguistics degree completion will maximize the ROI potential in well-paid, gratifying language careers. CNBC reported that the Class of 2018 had an average starting bachelor’s salary of $50,004. The Department of Labor estimates a median annual wage of $57,530 for communication-related careers. Linguists receive mean yearly income of $64,230. The 57,140 translators and interpreters reaped profits averaging $55,230. Adult literacy teachers were compensated an annual average of $58,110. For ESL jobs, the median salaries are $62,200 in elementary and $64,340 in secondary schools. Technical writers bring home a mean pay of $75,500. Archivists protect written documents for average $55,470 income. Salary.com lists median earnings of $58,045 for linguistics graduates. However, foreign language professors receive an average of $98,962. Other big annual averages are $123,520 for editorial managers, $146,880 for communications directors, and $131,563 for speech writers.
Are Employers Currently Hiring Low-Cost Linguistics Degree Graduates?
Finishing an economical linguistics degree puts bachelor’s majors in a great position to enter graduate school or the job market with in-demand communication skills. In 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found the unemployment rate plummeted to 2.1 percent for college grads. Communication jobs using English, Spanish, Chinese, and other languages are expected to grow 6 percent overall by 2026. Employment of interpreters and translators will skyrocket by 18 percent for 12,100 new openings. Education positions for ESL teachers are growing steadily by 6 percent. Market demand for technical writers is climbing 11 percent this decade. Hiring of court reporters will jump 3 percent for 20,300 total jobs. Archivists can expect 10-year job growth of 14 percent. English language and literature departments will add 8,300 more college professors for a 10 percent uptick. Content strategists have CNN Money’s 68th best job with fast 19 percent growth. Fluent wordsmiths should choose from the above best affordable linguistics degree programs to enhance their language analysis skills on budget.
AS Staff
This concludes our ranking of the top 15 best affordable linguistics degree programs (bachelor’s).
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