10 best universities in the USA for studying linguistics. Studying the languages of the world, their origins, as well as aspects of human speech and development trends is a fascinating process that attracts many applicants. Studying in the country of the target language and penetration into the culture not only deepens knowledge, but also helps in accumulating practical experience. Enrolling in an American university to major in linguistics is an invaluable investment in education, increasing your chances of obtaining a prestigious profession in the future.
Our rankings highlight the ten best higher education institutions in the United States majoring in Linguistics that provide an in-depth language learning program. In addition, our rating considers the cost of education and the characteristics of the educational process of each educational institution.
Content
- 1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Cost of education
- Requirements for candidates
- Funding and scholarships
- 2. Harvard University
- Cost of education
- Requirements for candidates
- Funding and scholarships
- 3. Princeton University
- Cost of education
- Requirements for candidates
- Funding and scholarships
- 4. Columbia University
- Cost of education
- Requirements for candidates
- Funding and scholarships
- 5. University of Pennsylvania
- Cost of education
- Admission requirements
- Funding and scholarships
- 6. Cornell University
- Cost of education
- Admission requirements
- Funding and scholarships
- 7. University of California Santa Barbara
- Cost of education
- Admission requirements
- Funding and scholarships
- 8. George Mason University
- Cost of education
- Admission requirements
- Funding and scholarships
- 9. University of California at Davis
- Cost of education
- Admission requirements
- Funding and scholarships
- 10. Arizona State University
- Cost of education
- Admission requirements
- Funding and scholarships
- Do you want to become a linguist in the USA?
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the most renowned technology institutes in the world, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Institute trains students in the following programs: bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. The study of linguistics takes place at the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy. Depending on the interests of students, the undergraduate program is further divided into two areas:
- Study of philosophy (Bachelor of Science in Philosophy).
- Study of linguistics and philosophy (Bachelor of Science in Linguistics and Philosophy).
It is important to note that simultaneous completion of training in two undergraduate specialties is impossible. Both programs last 4 years and then allow entry into master’s and doctoral programs.
Future masters (Master of Science in Linguistics) study at the university for 2 years and then enter doctoral studies (Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics). Doctoral studies last for five years, including writing a dissertation.
Cost of education
The cost of attending a technical institute is the same for all students and is not based on degree. For a bachelor’s degree program, fees are paid for one academic year. Exceptions are master’s and doctoral studies, where the amount of tuition is divided into semesters.
| Program | Duration | Cost for foreigners per year of study |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4-5 years | 52.710 USD |
| Master’s degree | 1-2 years | 55.708 USD |
| Doctoral studies | 5 years | 55.708 USD |
Requirements for candidates
Upon admission, you must provide the following documents:
- Resume (if available).
- Application for admission.
- Supplemental essays.
- Motivation letter (personal statement).
- An example of academic work (writing sample).
- Two letters of recommendation from teachers.
- TOEFL results (from 90 points) or IELTS (from 7 points).
- Transcript of grades from college or university (minimum score is 3.8).
- SAT exam results with a minimum score of 1535 points (Math – 780-800, Reading + Writing – 745-770).
In some cases, the candidate is interviewed to clarify additional questions. As a rule, interviews are conducted using remote technologies.
Funding and scholarships
The university is widely known for its tradition of selecting students based on personal qualities, as well as participation in international olympiads and competitions, academic merit and level of knowledge. The educational institution constantly strives to help students ensure comfortable living and studying by providing scholarships. Rewards from the institute fully cover the student’s tuition and needs. To receive this scholarship, students must demonstrate financial hardship (such as low family income).
More than 58% of students receive regular scholarships . On average, an international student receives about $54,000 per academic year. In addition, the institute provides the opportunity for students to conduct research in relevant areas of science with subsequent payment. This option is combined with receiving an academic scholarship.
2. Harvard University
Harvard University is the oldest university in the United States, located in the scientific city of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Institute trains students in the following programs: bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Training takes place at the Department of Linguistics.
The undergraduate program pays close attention to culture and language. Training covers fundamental, intermediate and advanced levels of the language, as well as literature of the target language.
The master’s and doctoral programs provide broad knowledge in the fields of language and history, as well as linguistic theories. Students study language in modern form, literature, and oral traditions in the context of history.
Cost of education
Tuition for undergraduate programs, regardless of direction, has a fixed cost of $49,653 . Those who complete their doctoral studies pay $51,904 in the first two years , and starting in the third year, the cost drops significantly.
| Program | Duration | Cost for foreigners |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4 years | 49.563 USD |
| Master’s degree | 2 years | 51.904 USD |
| Doctoral studies | 6 years | 51.904 USD (1-2 years),12.484 USD (3+ year) |
Requirements for candidates
In order to apply to the institute, you must pay a fee of $85 and fill out an application for admission. In addition, the applicant must provide a high school diploma or diploma, as well as a transcript of all grades with a minimum score of 4.18 . The basic list of documents also includes a writing sample of no more than 20 pages and two letters of recommendation from teachers.
The applicant must also provide:
- Resume (if available).
- Motivation letter (personal statement).
- TOEFL (100 points) or IELTS (from 7 points) results .
- SAT exam results with a minimum score of 1470 points (first part – 730-800, second – 740-800).
- Documentary evidence of participation in public activities or social projects.
If any questions arise, the applicant is additionally asked to write an essay on the proposed topic. Essays must be written exclusively in English. Upon completion of the assignment, the admissions committee makes a final decision regarding admission.
Funding and scholarships
International students and resident students at Harvard University receive the same amount of financial aid. The university provides assistance to more than 70% of students, and 50% of students receive a need-based scholarship.
Depending on the amount of financial aid, it may cover the entire year of study at the institute. For future bachelors and masters it is $52,000 , and for those studying for a doctorate, $44,000 .
3. Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research institution located in Princeton, New Jersey.
University students study in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs at the Department of Foreign Languages.
The following languages are available at the institute:
- German;
- Spanish;
- English;
- Italian;
- French;
- Portuguese;
- Slavic languages.
The student is also open to the direction of comparative literature, in which various languages and cultures are studied. In addition, applicants have the right to study one or two foreign languages, not counting the English language in which they are trained.
Cost of education
Tuition fees in the linguistic field are fixed for all students within the same program. Differences in cost are observed only at different level programs – for a bachelor’s degree it is the highest.
| Program | Duration | Cost for foreigners per year of study |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4 years | 60.560 USD |
| Master’s degree | 2 years | 50.657 USD |
| Doctoral studies | 5 years | 48.900 USD |
Requirements for candidates
Upon admission, the applicant is required to pay a fee of $90 . The candidate provides an application for admission, two letters of motivation from the head teacher and teachers, as well as a letter of recommendation from the class teacher.
The list of documents also includes a resume (if you have work experience) and a document confirming graduation from an educational institution.
The candidate must also meet the following minimum criteria:
- 100 points for TOEFL and 7 points for IELTS .
- The average score in the transcript from school or university is 3.9.
- 1505 points for SAT (Math – 730-800, Reading + Writing – 710-770).
Funding and scholarships
The university provides financial aid to students and awards based on need. Students can qualify for full tuition funding for all programs.
The average academic scholarship is about $61,000 per year. In some cases, the reward can reach $81,000 depending on the title and achievements in the field of science. The latter is relevant for candidates who are embarking on an academic career in the humanities and demonstrating excellence in teaching.
4. Columbia University
Columbia University is one of the most prestigious and renowned research universities in the world. The Institute is located in New York in the Manhattan area, where it occupies as many as six blocks.
The Institute offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in French and Italian. The university also offers the following areas:
- Jewish Studies;
- Russian translation (Russian Translation);
- Roman philology;
- comparative literature (Comparative Literature).
Cost of education
Columbia University provides applicants with a fixed tuition fee for a linguistics major within a single program. The cost of studying for master’s and doctoral studies at this institute is the same.
| Program | Duration | Cost for foreigners per year of study |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4 years | 59.704 USD |
| Master’s degree | 1-3 years | 52.700 USD |
| Doctoral studies | 5 years | 52.700 USD |
Requirements for candidates
To start the admission process, the applicant must provide an application for admission, a personal statement of the candidate and two letters of recommendation from teachers. If you have work experience, additional documents should accompany your resume.
The applicant must meet the minimum indicators:
- 100 points for TOEFL and 7 points for IELTS .
- The average score in the school or university transcript is from 4.12.
- 1505 points for SAT (Math – 740-800, Reading + Writing – 710-760).
The university also asks to provide a list of the candidate’s interests and achievements, his hobbies and descriptions of activities during the summer holidays.
Funding and scholarships
Scholarships for international students range from $40,000 to $52,000 per academic year, depending on the student’s needs. The number of students who regularly receive rewards from the university includes those who have certain successes in their studies and in sports and research activities.
International students may qualify for a variety of personalized grants and full funding. It is noteworthy that the number of students receiving scholarships is about 50-60% . Documents for receiving financial assistance and full funding are submitted along with the papers upon admission to the institute.
5. University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private research institution located in Philadelphia.
The university prepares future specialists in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. At the university, literature, the culture of the country of the language being studied, and the language itself are studied in depth. Upon completion of training, the student can work as a translator or teacher, as well as independently conduct research.
Cost of education
The university has a fixed fee for one academic year in all areas of linguistics within one program. Those areas that provide bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees vary in cost.
| Program | Duration | Cost for foreigners per year of study |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4 years | 53.534 USD |
| Master’s degree | 2 years | 61.454 USD |
| Doctoral studies | 5 years | 45.484 USD |
Admission requirements
In order to start the admission process, you must provide the following package of documents:
- Application for admission.
- Resume (if you have work experience).
- School leaving certificate or diploma.
- Motivation letter (personal statement).
- Two letters of recommendation from teachers.
- TOEFL (100 points) or IELTS (from 7.5 points) results .
- Transcript of grades from college or university (minimum score is 3.9).
- SAT exam results with a minimum score of 1500 points (Math – 740-800, Reading + Writing – 700-760).
Funding and scholarships
International undergraduate students can receive a scholarship of $56,300 per year. For those studying for a master’s or doctoral degree, the scholarship ranges from $35,000 to $57,200 . Graduate students actively engaged in research may qualify for an increased stipend of $65,000 per year.
The share of foreign students who receive scholarships averages 58-60% . Students have the right to apply for full funding when studying in all programs: bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral studies.
6. Cornell University
Cornell University is one of the largest American universities, located in Ithaca, New York.
The university offers training in all three programs. Students study foreign languages and cultures in depth, and also regularly go on internships abroad to gain practical experience. The following languages are available at the institute:
- German;
- Spanish;
- Italian;
- French;
- languages of Asian countries.
In addition, students also study comparative literature and general linguistics. A university education allows you to work as a teacher or translator, as well as in the field of politics, business or art.
Cost of education
Education in linguistic areas under a bachelor’s degree program at the university for foreigners costs $54,140 . Those students enrolled in master’s or doctoral programs pay $46,600 per academic year.
Admission requirements
The process of reviewing an application for admission is started if the applicant has provided the following documents:
- Resume (if available).
- Motivation letter.
- Application for admission.
- Additional essay (supplemental essay).
- School leaving certificate or diploma.
- Two letters of recommendation from teachers.
In addition, the candidate must meet the following thresholds:
- 100 points ( TOEFL ) and 7 points ( IELTS ).
- 4.07 points in the transcript of the certificate or diploma.
- 1480 points for SAT , where the first part is 720-800, and the second is 680-760.
Funding and scholarships
The Institute provides need-based scholarships in all study programs. In order to receive financial assistance, a student must prove the presence of financial problems in the family that do not allow them to partially or fully pay for their studies.
Scholarships for international students range from $32,000 to $43,000 . Cornell University has a clear policy of admitting applicants based on personality and achievement, not income. That is why the management of the educational institution takes on the financial difficulties of students, providing financial assistance in return.
7. University of California Santa Barbara
The University of California Santa Barbara is one of the University of California campuses located in Santa Barbara, California.
The university provides training in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. The following foreign languages are studied at the university:
- German;
- Greek;
- Spanish;
- Italian;
- French;
- Portuguese;
- Slavic languages;
- languages of Asian countries.
In addition, the university offers courses in literature and comparative literature. Students also study translation and translation studies, languages in different historical periods, and the relationship of language with society.
Cost of education
The fee for one academic year of bachelor’s and master’s degrees for foreign students reaches $46,890 . The university does not have a separate master’s program, but there is the possibility of obtaining a double degree in the following areas:
- MA and PhD in English.
- MA and PhD in Linguistics.
- MA and PhD in Comparative Literature.
- MA and PhD in Comparative Literature in French Literary Studies.
- MA and PhD in Comparative Literature in German Literary Studies.
The cost of each of the listed directions is $33,153 .
Admission requirements
The package of documents for admission consists of an application for admission, a personal essay, two letters of recommendation from teachers and documents on education. If you have work experience, the applicant provides a resume.
Candidates must meet the thresholds in the following exams:
- TOEFL (from 80 points) or IELTS (from 6.5 points).
- SAT (from 1355 points, where the first part is 610-770, and the second is 620-710).
Prospective students are also required to provide a transcript of their college or university grades (minimum score is 4.12 ).
Funding and scholarships
UC Santa Barbara is committed to ensuring that all students have free access to higher education. That is why about 55-60% of students receive financial assistance. Regular scholarships are available for all study programs.
The average scholarship amount varies from $30,000 to $40,000 and depends on the student’s academic abilities, his merits and the financial situation of the family. International students can also expect full tuition payment from the university.
8. George Mason University
George Mason University is a public research institute located in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Several languages are studied at the institute: Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish (optional). In addition, the applicant is also open to the areas of studying and composing technical texts (Technical Writing), as well as popular science literature (Non-fiction Writing) and poetry (Poetry Writing). The Institute provides training at all three levels.
Cost of education
Below is the fee for one academic year of study at George Mason Institute:
| Program | Duration | Cost for foreigners per year of study |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4 years | 42.690 USD |
| Master’s degree | 2 years | 42.480 USD |
| Doctoral studies | 5 years | 42.480 USD |
Admission requirements
Upon admission, the candidate submits an application and an essay, as well as two letters of recommendation from teachers. Working students should also include a resume in the list of documents.
The candidate must meet the minimum entry requirements:
- Average GPA 3.65 points.
- 80 points for TOEFL or 6.5 points for IELTS .
- 1215 points for SAT (first part – 550-660 points, second – 560-660).
The institute also welcomes applicants who actively participate in extracurricular activities and community service.
Funding and scholarships
The vast majority of students at the institute receive scholarships that fully or partially cover their studies. The university has rewards for first-year undergraduate and graduate students based on academic achievement.
Students in all programs receive an average scholarship of $36,000 per academic year.
9. University of California at Davis
The University of California Davis is one of the universities in the University of California system, located in the city of Davis, in Yolo County, in the state of California.
At the institute, students study aspects of linguistics in depth and actively develop a second foreign language. Students receive the necessary skills for further professional research and teaching foreign languages to non-native speakers.
The University of California offers education in the following languages:
- Russian;
- Japanese;
- German;
- Spanish;
- Italian;
- French.
Cost of education
One academic year at the university under a bachelor’s degree program for international students costs $45,947 . The cost of one year in master’s and doctoral studies is the same – $34,220 .
Admission requirements
Upon admission to the institute, the applicant must provide the following documents:
- Resume (if available).
- Application for admission.
- School leaving certificate or diploma.
- Motivation letter (personal statement).
- An example of academic work (writing sample).
- Two letters of recommendation from teachers.
- TOEFL results (from 80 points) or IELTS (from 6.5 points).
- Transcript of grades from college or university (minimum score is 4.03).
- SAT exam results with a minimum score of 1280 points (Math – 580-740, Reading + Writing – 570-670).
Funding and scholarships
Regular scholarships are available for international students, subject to proof of insufficient family financial means. In addition to this, students are also eligible to apply for scholarships based on excellent academic performance and merit.
Foreign students can also combine study and work if the visa category allows it (work-study). Students are often offered jobs on the institute’s campus. The average scholarship amount is $35,000 . In addition, students can also qualify for full funding from the university.
10. Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a research institution located in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Arizona.
The university provides training at all levels of education, preparing multilingual employees in the field of linguistics. The following languages are available at the institute: French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, as well as languages of Asian countries.
Upon completion of training, the student can work as a translator and teacher, as well as in the fields of literature and culture.
Cost of education
University tuition for each program for a foreign student costs approximately the same – about $32,000 . Thus, undergraduate education costs $32,387 , and master’s and doctoral studies cost $32,043 .
The duration of undergraduate studies is 4-5 years, and for those studying at subsequent levels – 2 years.
Admission requirements
When applying to Arizona State University, applicants must provide a basic package of documents: an application for admission, a document about graduation from school and/or college/university. Moreover, candidates are also required to submit a personal essay and two letters of recommendation.
For those applying to master’s and doctoral programs, it is worth additionally providing an example of academic work and a resume in cases where you have worked. Minimum exam scores to qualify you for consideration by the institute must meet:
- 80 points for TOEFL or 6.5 points for IELTS .
- The average score on the transcript from school and/or university is 3.54.
- 1245 points for SAT (Math – 560-690, Reading + Writing – 570-670).
Funding and scholarships
Academic scholarships at Arizona State University are available to students with outstanding academic performance and financial need. The average scholarship amount is $35,000 for all study programs.
Foreign students can also count on full tuition coverage from the university. It is not worth submitting a separate application for the program, since the management of the institution considers the financial status of all students already in the admission process.
Do you want to become a linguist in the USA?
Enrolling in a higher education institution abroad is a responsible step that requires carefully thought-out actions. Compliant essays and submission of documents that show you at your best will make a clear statement about you and set you apart from other international candidates. Our online school offers comprehensive preparation for passing the necessary exams for admission to an American university in the linguistic field. Our teaching staff carefully approaches each case and provides support at all stages of admission to the institute. We are happy to assist you in making your cherished dream come true.