Best Universities for Linguistics in the World

Updated: July 18, 2023

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the World ranked based on their research performance in Linguistics. A graph of 1.8B citations received by 83.2M academic papers made by 5,623 universities in the World was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Stanford University

United States | California

For Linguistics

#1 in North America

#1 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $14,402

2. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Linguistics

#2 in North America

#2 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $13,910

3. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Linguistics

#3 in North America

#1 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Enrollment: 95,055
Founded: 1827

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Linguistics

#4 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $21,406
Enrollment: 45,036

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Linguistics

#5 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $16,326
Enrollment: 50,278

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Linguistics

#6 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Net Price: $30,958
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,562

7. University of Oxford

United Kingdom | England

For Linguistics

#1 in Europe

#1 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1096

8. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Linguistics

#7 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $15,895
Enrollment: 52,434

9. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Linguistics

#8 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $14,578

10. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Linguistics

#9 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $37,450

11. University of Cambridge

United Kingdom | England

For Linguistics

#2 in Europe

#2 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

12. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Linguistics

#10 in North America

#9 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 85%

13. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Linguistics

#11 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $17,592
Enrollment: 46,116

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Linguistics

#12 in North America

#11 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 64%

15. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Linguistics

#13 in North America

#12 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,605

16. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Linguistics

#14 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $12,411

17. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Linguistics

#15 in North America

#14 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,262

18. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Linguistics

#16 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $8,719
Enrollment: 40,363

19. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Linguistics

#17 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $18,083
Enrollment: 41,885

20. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Linguistics

#18 in North America

#2 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Enrollment: 59,659
Founded: 1908

21. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Linguistics

#19 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 83%

22. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Linguistics

#20 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,021

23. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Linguistics

#21 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

24. New York University

United States | New York State

For Linguistics

#22 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $50,991

25. University College London

United Kingdom | England

For Linguistics

#3 in Europe

#3 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

26. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Linguistics

#23 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Net Price: $20,680
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $45,373

27. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Linguistics

#24 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,727

28. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Linguistics

#25 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,908

29. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Linguistics

#4 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

30. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Linguistics

#26 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 78%

31. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Linguistics

#27 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 68%

32. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Linguistics

#28 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $25,852

33. University of Tokyo

For Linguistics

#1 in Asia

#1 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 28,133
Founded: 1877

34. University of Manchester

United Kingdom | England

For Linguistics

#5 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

35. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Linguistics

#29 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

36. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Linguistics

#30 in North America

#3 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 40,036
Founded: 1821

37. Tsinghua University

China | Beijing

For Linguistics

#2 in Asia

#1 in China

Enrollment: 48,739
Founded: 1911

38. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Linguistics

#31 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 72%

39. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Linguistics

#32 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 60%

40. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Linguistics

#33 in North America

#30 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 3,165
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

41. University of Amsterdam

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Linguistics

#6 in Europe

#1 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 31,123
Founded: 1632

42. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Linguistics

#34 in North America

#31 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

43. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Linguistics

#1 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

44. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Linguistics

#35 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $12,201
Enrollment: 77,881

45. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Linguistics

#36 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

46. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Linguistics

#2 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1853

47. National University of Singapore

Singapore | Singapore City

For Linguistics

#3 in Asia

#1 in Singapore

Enrollment: 30,098
Founded: 1905

48. Imperial College London

United Kingdom | England

For Linguistics

#7 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

49. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Linguistics

#37 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 87%

50. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Linguistics

#38 in North America

#4 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1908

51. Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium | Leuven

For Linguistics

#8 in Europe

Enrollment: 62,693
Founded: 1425

52. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Linguistics

#39 in North America

#35 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $29,999

53. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Linguistics

#40 in North America

#36 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $17,628
Enrollment: 40,050

54. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Linguistics

#41 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,298

55. Tel Aviv University

Israel | Tel Aviv

For Linguistics

#4 in Asia

#1 in Israel

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

56. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Linguistics

#42 in North America

#38 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

57. Kyoto University

For Linguistics

#5 in Asia

#2 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 22,455
Male:Female: 76:24
Founded: 1897

58. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Linguistics

#3 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

59. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Linguistics

#9 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

60. Chinese University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Linguistics

#6 in Asia

#2 in China

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

61. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Linguistics

#43 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1513
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,297

62. University of New South Wales

Australia | Sydney

For Linguistics

#4 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1949

63. University of Auckland

New Zealand | Auckland

For Linguistics

#1 in New Zealand

Founded: 1883

64. Utrecht University

Netherlands | Utrecht

For Linguistics

#10 in Europe

#2 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1636

65. Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Israel | Jerusalem

For Linguistics

#7 in Asia

#2 in Israel

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 23,500
Founded: 1918

66. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Linguistics

#44 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,553

67. Australian National University

Australia | Canberra

For Linguistics

#5 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1946

68. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Linguistics

#45 in North America

#41 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 63%

69. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Linguistics

#46 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $16,868
Enrollment: 36,505

70. University of Oslo

For Linguistics

#11 in Europe

#1 in Norway

Enrollment: 26,650
Founded: 1811

71. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Linguistics

#47 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 72%

72. University of Sheffield

United Kingdom | England

For Linguistics

#12 in Europe

#7 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1905

73. Monash University

Australia | Clayton

For Linguistics

#6 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 1958

74. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Linguistics

#48 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $18,107
Enrollment: 26,124

75. Nanyang Technological University

Singapore | Singapore City

For Linguistics

#8 in Asia

#2 in Singapore

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1955

76. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Linguistics

#49 in North America

#45 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 78%

77. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

China | Shanghai

For Linguistics

#9 in Asia

#3 in China

Enrollment: 47,000
Founded: 1896

78. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Linguistics

#50 in North America

#5 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Enrollment: 45,360
Founded: 1878

79. University of Birmingham

United Kingdom | England

For Linguistics

#13 in Europe

#8 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1900

80. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Linguistics

#51 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 73%

81. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Linguistics

#52 in North America

#6 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

82. University of Nottingham

United Kingdom | England

For Linguistics

#14 in Europe

#9 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1948

83. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Linguistics

#53 in North America

#47 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 79%

84. University of Helsinki

Finland | Helsinki

For Linguistics

#15 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 31,312
Founded: 1640

85. King's College London

United Kingdom | England

For Linguistics

#16 in Europe

#10 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1829

86. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Linguistics

#54 in North America

#7 in Canada

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

87. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Linguistics

#55 in North America

#48 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,125

88. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Linguistics

#56 in North America

#8 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment: 27,300
Founded: 1878

89. University of Bristol

United Kingdom | England

For Linguistics

#17 in Europe

#11 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

90. Aarhus University

Denmark | Aarhus

For Linguistics

#18 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 33,020
Founded: 1928

91. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Linguistics

#1 in Latin America

#1 in Brazil

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 97,964
Founded: 1827

92. Radboud University

Netherlands | Nijmegen

For Linguistics

#19 in Europe

#3 in the Netherlands

Founded: 1923

93. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Linguistics

#57 in North America

#49 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 89%

94. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Linguistics

#58 in North America

#50 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $28,367

95. Ghent University

Belgium | Ghent

For Linguistics

#20 in Europe

Enrollment: 41,669
Founded: 1817

96. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Linguistics

#59 in North America

#51 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1207
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 93%

97. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Linguistics

#60 in North America

#9 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

98. University of Leeds

United Kingdom | England

For Linguistics

#21 in Europe

#12 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1904

99. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Linguistics

#61 in North America

#10 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Enrollment: 30,117
Founded: 1887

100. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Linguistics

#62 in North America

#52 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in the World

Anthropology3739

Archaeology5794

Art History1684

Broadcast Journalism1001

Classics and Ancient History2248

Communications and Public Relations2927

Criminology and Criminal Justice1206

Early Childhood Education1017

Education Majors3964

Forensic Science1084

Gender Studies1879

Human Rights Law1010

Intellectual Property and Patent Law1063

International Law1033

International Relations and Diplomacy1001

Journalism and Digital Media1286

Law Enforcement1031

Library and Information science2345

Media Studies1202

Military science1014

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution1015

Occupational Safety and Health1008

Political Economy1133

Political Science6450

Public Policy / Administration1517

Radio and Television broadcasting1043

Social Work1044

Special Education1012

Sports / Exercise science1015

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies3778

Urban and Regional planning1184