100 Best colleges for Linguistics in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Linguistics. A graph of 99.5M citations received by 2.65M academic papers made by 1,309 universities in the United States 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

California | Stanford

For Linguistics

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Linguistics

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

3. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Linguistics

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Linguistics

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Linguistics

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

6. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Linguistics

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

7. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Linguistics

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

8. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Linguistics

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

9. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Linguistics

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

10. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Linguistics

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

11. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Linguistics

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

12. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Linguistics

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

13. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Linguistics

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

14. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Linguistics

#16 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

15. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Linguistics

#17 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

16. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Linguistics

#18 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

17. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Linguistics

#19 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

18. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Linguistics

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

19. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Linguistics

#21 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

20. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Linguistics

#22 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

21. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Linguistics

#23 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

22. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Linguistics

#24 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

23. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Linguistics

#25 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

24. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Linguistics

#26 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

25. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Linguistics

#27 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

26. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Linguistics

#28 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

27. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Linguistics

#29 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

28. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Linguistics

#30 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

29. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Linguistics

#31 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

30. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Linguistics

#33 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

31. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Linguistics

#34 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

32. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Linguistics

#35 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

33. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Linguistics

#36 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

34. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Linguistics

#37 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

35. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Linguistics

#39 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

36. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Linguistics

#40 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

37. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Linguistics

#41 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

38. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Linguistics

#42 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

39. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Linguistics

#43 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

40. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Linguistics

#45 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

41. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Linguistics

#46 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

42. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Linguistics

#47 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

43. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Linguistics

#48 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

44. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Linguistics

#49 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

45. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Linguistics

#50 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

46. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Linguistics

#52 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

47. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Linguistics

#55 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

48. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Linguistics

#57 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

49. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Linguistics

#58 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

50. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Linguistics

#59 in North America

#104 in the World

Enrollment: 4,938
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

51. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Linguistics

#60 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

52. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Linguistics

#61 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

53. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Linguistics

#62 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

54. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Linguistics

#63 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

55. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Linguistics

#64 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

56. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Linguistics

#66 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

57. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Linguistics

#67 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

58. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Linguistics

#68 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

59. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Linguistics

#69 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

60. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Linguistics

#70 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

61. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Linguistics

#71 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

62. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Linguistics

#72 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

63. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Linguistics

#73 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

64. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Linguistics

#75 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

65. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Linguistics

#77 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

66. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Linguistics

#78 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

67. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Linguistics

#79 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

68. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Linguistics

#80 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

69. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Linguistics

#81 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

70. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Linguistics

#82 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

71. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Linguistics

#83 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

72. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Linguistics

#84 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

73. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Linguistics

#85 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

74. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Linguistics

#86 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

75. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Linguistics

#88 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

76. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Linguistics

#89 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

77. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Linguistics

#90 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

78. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Linguistics

#91 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

79. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Linguistics

#92 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

80. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Linguistics

#93 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

81. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Linguistics

#94 in North America

#213 in the World

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

82. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Linguistics

#95 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

83. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Linguistics

#96 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

84. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Linguistics

#97 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

85. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Linguistics

#98 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

86. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Linguistics

#99 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

87. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Linguistics

#100 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

88. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Linguistics

#101 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

89. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Linguistics

#102 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

90. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Linguistics

#103 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

91. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Linguistics

#104 in North America

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

92. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Linguistics

#106 in North America

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

93. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Linguistics

#107 in North America

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

94. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Linguistics

#108 in North America

#259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

95. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Linguistics

#109 in North America

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

96. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Linguistics

#111 in North America

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,942
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

97. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Linguistics

#112 in North America

#281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

98. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Linguistics

#115 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

99. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Linguistics

#116 in North America

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

100. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Linguistics

#117 in North America

#298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

The best cities to study Linguistics in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Stanford, Cambridge, Berkeley, and Ann Arbor.