100 Best colleges for Linguistics in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 67.1M citations received by 2.28M academic papers made by 1,250 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: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Linguistics

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Linguistics

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Linguistics

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Linguistics

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

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

6. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Linguistics

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

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

7. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Linguistics

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

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

8. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Linguistics

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

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

9. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Linguistics

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

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

10. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Linguistics

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

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

11. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Linguistics

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

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

12. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Linguistics

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

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

13. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Linguistics

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

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

14. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Linguistics

#16 in North America

#19 in the World

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

15. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Linguistics

#17 in North America

#20 in the World

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

16. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Linguistics

#18 in North America

#21 in the World

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

17. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Linguistics

#19 in North America

#22 in the World

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

18. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Linguistics

#20 in North America

#23 in the World

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

19. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Linguistics

#21 in North America

#24 in the World

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

20. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Linguistics

#22 in North America

#25 in the World

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

21. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Linguistics

#23 in North America

#26 in the World

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

22. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Linguistics

#24 in North America

#28 in the World

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

23. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Linguistics

#25 in North America

#29 in the World

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

24. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Linguistics

#26 in North America

#30 in the World

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

25. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Linguistics

#27 in North America

#31 in the World

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

26. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Linguistics

#28 in North America

#34 in the World

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

27. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Linguistics

#30 in North America

#39 in the World

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

28. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Linguistics

#31 in North America

#40 in the World

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

29. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Linguistics

#32 in North America

#42 in the World

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

30. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Linguistics

#33 in North America

#43 in the World

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

31. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Linguistics

#34 in North America

#44 in the World

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

32. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Linguistics

#35 in North America

#45 in the World

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

33. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Linguistics

#36 in North America

#46 in the World

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

34. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Linguistics

#37 in North America

#50 in the World

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

35. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Linguistics

#38 in North America

#51 in the World

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

36. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Linguistics

#40 in North America

#54 in the World

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

37. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Linguistics

#41 in North America

#55 in the World

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

38. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Linguistics

#42 in North America

#57 in the World

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

39. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Linguistics

#43 in North America

#62 in the World

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

40. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Linguistics

#44 in North America

#64 in the World

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

41. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Linguistics

#45 in North America

#69 in the World

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

42. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Linguistics

#46 in North America

#72 in the World

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

43. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Linguistics

#47 in North America

#73 in the World

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

44. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Linguistics

#48 in North America

#74 in the World

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

45. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Linguistics

#49 in North America

#78 in the World

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

46. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Linguistics

#50 in North America

#79 in the World

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

47. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Linguistics

#54 in North America

#92 in the World

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

48. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Linguistics

#56 in North America

#95 in the World

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

49. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Linguistics

#58 in North America

#97 in the World

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

50. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Linguistics

#59 in North America

#102 in the World

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

51. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Linguistics

#60 in North America

#103 in the World

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

52. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Linguistics

#61 in North America

#104 in the World

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

53. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Linguistics

#63 in North America

#109 in the World

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

54. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Linguistics

#64 in North America

#112 in the World

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

55. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Linguistics

#65 in North America

#117 in the World

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

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: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

57. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Linguistics

#67 in North America

#133 in the World

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

58. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Linguistics

#68 in North America

#135 in the World

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

59. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Linguistics

#69 in North America

#136 in the World

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

60. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Linguistics

#70 in North America

#137 in the World

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

61. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Linguistics

#71 in North America

#138 in the World

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

62. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Linguistics

#72 in North America

#145 in the World

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

63. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Linguistics

#73 in North America

#149 in the World

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

64. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Linguistics

#74 in North America

#150 in the World

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

65. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Linguistics

#75 in North America

#151 in the World

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

66. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Linguistics

#78 in North America

#158 in the World

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

67. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Linguistics

#79 in North America

#160 in the World

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

68. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Linguistics

#80 in North America

#162 in the World

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

69. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Linguistics

#81 in North America

#163 in the World

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

70. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Linguistics

#82 in North America

#165 in the World

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

71. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Linguistics

#83 in North America

#171 in the World

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

72. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Linguistics

#84 in North America

#174 in the World

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

73. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Linguistics

#85 in North America

#177 in the World

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

74. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Linguistics

#87 in North America

#184 in the World

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

75. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Linguistics

#88 in North America

#185 in the World

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

76. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Linguistics

#89 in North America

#186 in the World

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

77. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Linguistics

#90 in North America

#187 in the World

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

78. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Linguistics

#91 in North America

#191 in the World

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

79. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Linguistics

#92 in North America

#195 in the World

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

80. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Linguistics

#93 in North America

#197 in the World

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

81. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Linguistics

#94 in North America

#199 in the World

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

82. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Linguistics

#95 in North America

#202 in the World

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

83. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Linguistics

#96 in North America

#203 in the World

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

84. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Linguistics

#97 in North America

#204 in the World

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

85. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Linguistics

#98 in North America

#205 in the World

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

86. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Linguistics

#99 in North America

#212 in the World

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

87. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Linguistics

#100 in North America

#218 in the World

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

88. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Linguistics

#101 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

89. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Linguistics

#102 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

90. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Linguistics

#103 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

91. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Linguistics

#104 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

92. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Linguistics

#105 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

93. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Linguistics

#106 in North America

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

94. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Linguistics

#107 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

95. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Linguistics

#108 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

96. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Linguistics

#111 in North America

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $35,412

97. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Linguistics

#112 in North America

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

98. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Linguistics

#114 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

99. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Linguistics

#115 in North America

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,827

100. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Linguistics

#116 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

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.