Foreign Languages, Literatures, And LinguisticsSpecialization of Linguistic

Best institutions to study Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

CIP 16.0199

Any instructional program in linguistic, comparative, and related language studies and services not listed above.

24 U.S. institutions graduated 296 Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.0199, a specialization of Linguistic (CIP 16.01), and leads most directly to the Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 19-3099).

Institutions
24
offering CIP 16.0199
States & territories
15
with graduates reported
Graduates / yr
296
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Women
64%
share of graduates
US median pay · Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
$101,110
BLS OEWS May 2025
Share of Linguistic
4.5%
of all Linguistic graduates

About Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services programs

Official NCES definition · CIP 16.0199
Any instructional program in linguistic, comparative, and related language studies and services not listed above.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).

The Linguistic program, officially titled Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other, offers students a comprehensive understanding of language structure, usage, and its cultural implications. This program is ideal for those interested in exploring the intricacies of language beyond traditional foreign language studies, making it suitable for aspiring linguists, educators, and social scientists.

Learn more about Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services →

What you'll learn

Students in the Linguistic program engage with various aspects of language studies, including comparative linguistics and related language services. Coursework typically emphasizes analytical skills, language theory, and the relationship between language and culture.

Credentials awarded

What Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).

  • Bachelor's degree213 graduates / yr · 11 institutions
    72%
  • Master's degree29 graduates / yr · 6 institutions
    9.8%
  • Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year23 graduates / yr · 4 institutions
    7.8%
  • Postbaccalaureate certificate19 graduates / yr · 5 institutions
    6.4%
  • Doctor's degree - research/scholarship12 graduates / yr · 4 institutions
    4.1%

Graduates over time

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.

296graduates in 2025
+44% since 2012
327 · 202020122025206296
Graduates per year (IPEDS completions)
YearGraduates
2012206
2013243
2014242
2015259
2016268
2017306
2018318
2019290
2020327
2021264
2022232
2023244
2024223
2025296

Top 24 institutions for Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, ranked by graduates

Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.

#InstitutionGraduates / yrGrad rateNet priceField earnings* (1 yr)
1University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
12793%—$30,524
2Appalachian State University
Boone, NCPublicBachelor's
2575%—$24,657
3Mesa Community College
Mesa, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year
1816%——
4Brigham Young University
Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's
1881%$13,712$34,279
5University of Kentucky
Lexington, KYPublicBachelor's
1371%—$27,449
6Boston University
Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.Bachelor's
1389%$21,956—
7University of California - Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor's
1183%—$27,629
8University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UTPublicBachelor's
1165%—$30,251
9University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
992%$26,873—
10University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MDPublicMaster'sDoctoral
889%——
11Missouri State University - Springfield
Springfield, MOPublicMaster's
858%—$29,830
12Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, INPublicDoctoralMaster's
580%——
13University of Oregon
Eugene, ORPublicPost-degree cert.
572%—$23,615
14George Mason University
Fairfax, VAPublicPost-degree cert.
468%—$40,105
15Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Ponce
Mercedita, PRPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral
441%$9,980—
16Rio Salado College
Tempe, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year
39%——
17University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NEPublicMaster's
347%—$33,828
18Rowan University
Glassboro, NJPublicBachelor's
367%——
19University of California - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CAPublicBachelor's
275%—$21,793
20University of Miami
Coral Gables, FLPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.
284%$26,589—
21Glendale Community College
Glendale, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year
116%——
22Murray State University
Murray, KYPublicBachelor's
161%——
23Oregon State University
Corvallis, ORPublicPost-degree cert.
170%——
24University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year
166%——

* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Linguistic field (CIP 16.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.

Offered in 15 states & territories

Where Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services graduates come from. Each state links to all Linguistic programs offered there.

Careers & outlook

The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3099, Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other, and its national outlook.

Graduates of the Linguistic program often pursue careers as social scientists and related workers. While the job outlook indicates a slight decline with a growth rate of -1.7%, there are approximately 3,200 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $100,340, with a typical education requirement of a Bachelor's degree.

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-1.7%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~3,200
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$100,340
typically Bachelor's degree
National employment
37,100
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
US average pay
$107,690
annual, BLS OEWS May 2025
US median pay
$101,110
annual

Top-paying metros

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
$141,440avg
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
$130,910avg
College Station-Bryan, TX
$123,170avg
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
$120,260avg
Charlottesville, VA
$119,150avg

Career pathways for CIP 16.0199

The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.

OccupationUS median payGrowthOpenings / yrTypical entry education
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Otherprimary
SOC 19-3099
$101,110-1.7%
Decline
~3,200Bachelor's degree

Related careers

Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
$107,690 avg · 37,100 jobs

Other Linguistic specializations

The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Linguistic (CIP 16.01).

Common questions

What degrees can I earn in this program?+

You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, a postbaccalaureate certificate, or an award for at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.

How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+

There are 24 colleges in the U.S. that offer the Linguistic program.

What types of careers can I pursue with this degree?+

Graduates typically work as social scientists and related workers.

What is the average salary for careers in this field?+

The median wage for social scientists and related workers is approximately $100,340.

What is the CIP code for Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services?+

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services is CIP 16.0199 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Linguistic (CIP 16.01). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in linguistic, comparative, and related language studies and services not listed above.

How many institutions offer Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services programs?+

24 U.S. institutions reported Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 15 states & territories, awarding 296 credentials in the year. That is 4.5% of all Linguistic graduates.

How much do Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services graduates earn?+

Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other occupation, which Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services most directly leads to, pays a median of $101,110 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Linguistic field report median earnings of $29,830 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.

Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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