Best Universities for Linguistics in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Linguistics. A graph of 75.5M citations received by 2.61M academic papers made by 1,330 universities in North America 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 the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

2. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Linguistics

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

3. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Linguistics

#1 in Canada

#3 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Linguistics

#3 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Linguistics

#4 in the United States

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Linguistics

#5 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

7. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Linguistics

#6 in the United States

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

8. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Linguistics

#7 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

9. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Linguistics

#8 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

10. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Linguistics

#9 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

11. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Linguistics

#10 in the United States

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

12. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Linguistics

#11 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

13. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Linguistics

#12 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Linguistics

#13 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

15. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Linguistics

#2 in Canada

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

16. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Linguistics

#14 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

17. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Linguistics

#15 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

18. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Linguistics

#16 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

19. New York University

United States | New York State

For Linguistics

#17 in the United States

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

20. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Linguistics

#18 in the United States

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

21. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Linguistics

#19 in the United States

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

22. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Linguistics

#20 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

23. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Linguistics

#21 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

24. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Linguistics

#22 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

25. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Linguistics

#23 in the United States

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

26. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Linguistics

#24 in the United States

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

27. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Linguistics

#25 in the United States

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

28. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Linguistics

#26 in the United States

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

29. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Linguistics

#3 in Canada

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

30. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Linguistics

#27 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

31. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Linguistics

#28 in the United States

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

32. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Linguistics

#29 in the United States

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

33. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Linguistics

#30 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

34. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Linguistics

#31 in the United States

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

35. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Linguistics

#32 in the United States

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

36. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Linguistics

#33 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

37. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Linguistics

#34 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

38. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Linguistics

#35 in the United States

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

39. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Linguistics

#4 in Canada

#53 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

40. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Linguistics

#36 in the United States

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

41. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Linguistics

#37 in the United States

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

42. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Linguistics

#38 in the United States

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

43. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Linguistics

#39 in the United States

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

44. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Linguistics

#40 in the United States

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

45. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Linguistics

#41 in the United States

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

46. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Linguistics

#42 in the United States

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

47. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Linguistics

#43 in the United States

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

48. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Linguistics

#44 in the United States

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

49. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Linguistics

#45 in the United States

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

50. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Linguistics

#46 in the United States

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

51. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Linguistics

#5 in Canada

#85 in the World

Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

52. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Linguistics

#6 in Canada

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

53. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Linguistics

#7 in Canada

#91 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

54. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Linguistics

#47 in the United States

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

55. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Linguistics

#8 in Canada

#94 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

56. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Linguistics

#48 in the United States

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

57. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Linguistics

#9 in Canada

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

58. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Linguistics

#49 in the United States

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

59. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Linguistics

#50 in the United States

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

60. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Linguistics

#51 in the United States

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

61. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Linguistics

#52 in the United States

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

62. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Linguistics

#10 in Canada

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

63. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Linguistics

#53 in the United States

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

64. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Linguistics

#54 in the United States

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

65. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Linguistics

#55 in the United States

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

66. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Linguistics

#56 in the United States

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

67. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Linguistics

#57 in the United States

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

68. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Linguistics

#58 in the United States

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

69. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Linguistics

#59 in the United States

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

70. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Linguistics

#60 in the United States

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

71. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Linguistics

#61 in the United States

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

72. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Linguistics

#62 in the United States

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

73. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Linguistics

#63 in the United States

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

74. University of Oregon

United States | Oregon

For Linguistics

#64 in the United States

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

75. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Linguistics

#65 in the United States

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

76. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Linguistics

#11 in Canada

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

77. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Linguistics

#12 in Canada

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

78. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Linguistics

#66 in the United States

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

79. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Linguistics

#67 in the United States

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

80. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Linguistics

#68 in the United States

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

81. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Linguistics

#69 in the United States

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

82. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Linguistics

#70 in the United States

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

83. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Linguistics

#71 in the United States

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

84. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Linguistics

#72 in the United States

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

85. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Linguistics

#73 in the United States

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

86. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Linguistics

#13 in Canada

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

87. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Linguistics

#74 in the United States

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

88. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Linguistics

#75 in the United States

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

89. University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States | Alabama

For Linguistics

#76 in the United States

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

90. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Linguistics

#77 in the United States

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

91. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Linguistics

#78 in the United States

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

92. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Linguistics

#79 in the United States

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

93. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Linguistics

#80 in the United States

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

94. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Linguistics

#81 in the United States

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

95. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Linguistics

#82 in the United States

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

96. Baylor College of Medicine

United States | Texas

For Linguistics

#83 in the United States

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

97. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

United States | Texas

For Linguistics

#84 in the United States

#204 in the World

Enrollment: 2,354
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1943

98. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Linguistics

#85 in the United States

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

99. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Linguistics

#86 in the United States

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

100. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Linguistics

#87 in the United States

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in North America

Anthropology1028

Archaeology1392

Broadcast Journalism318

Classics and Ancient History792

Communications and Public Relations860

Criminology and Criminal Justice557

Early Childhood Education431

Education Majors1108

Forensic Science242

Gender Studies752

Human Rights Law299

Intellectual Property and Patent Law283

International Law286

International Relations and Diplomacy326

Journalism and Digital Media377

Law Enforcement395

Library and Information science966

Media Studies596

Military science480

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution318

Occupational Safety and Health340

Political Economy437

Political Science1686

Public Policy / Administration508

Radio and Television broadcasting317

Special Education395

Sports / Exercise science319

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies1150

Urban and Regional planning220