Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services graduates earn a median $49,984 four years after finishing — $1,624/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 41.6 years. Federal data pools 360 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 5,051 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services ranks #167 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 18% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University | NC | $88,098 |
| 2 | Brandeis University | MA | $78,746 |
| 3 | Emory University | GA | $76,993 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley | CA | $76,724 |
| 5 | Virginia Military Institute | VA | $73,971 |
| 6 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | VA | $68,263 |
| 7 | Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | $66,241 |
| 8 | Michigan State University | MI | $65,667 |
| 9 | Georgetown University | DC | $65,574 |
| 10 | Stony Brook University | NY | $64,547 |
| 11 | University of California-Los Angeles | CA | $62,927 |
| 12 | James Madison University | VA | $62,366 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.