Best colleges for Linguistics and Computer Science
A program that focuses on the relationship between computer and human language and computational techniques applied to natural language.
6 U.S. institutions graduated 17 Linguistics and Computer Science students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 30.4801, a specialization of Linguistics and Computer Science (CIP 30.48), and leads most directly to the Data Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 15-2051).
About Linguistics and Computer Science programs
A program that focuses on the relationship between computer and human language and computational techniques applied to natural language. Includes instruction in computer programming, human languages, linguistic analysis, logic, natural language processing, semantics, machine learning, psycholinguistics, software engineering, and syntax.
See also: 11.0101 - Computer and Information Sciences, General., 16.0102 - Linguistics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Linguistics and Computer Science program focuses on the intersection of human language and computational techniques. This interdisciplinary field is ideal for students interested in exploring how computer programming and linguistic analysis can be applied to natural language processing and machine learning. It caters to those who are passionate about both technology and language.
Students in this program will gain expertise in areas such as natural language processing, semantics, psycholinguistics, and software engineering. Coursework typically includes instruction in computer programming, logic, and syntax, equipping graduates with the skills needed to analyze and manipulate language data effectively.
Credentials awarded
What Linguistics and Computer Science graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree10 graduates / yr · 4 institutions59%
- Bachelor's degree7 graduates / yr · 2 institutions41%
Graduates over time
Linguistics and Computer Science completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 17 |
CIP 30.4801 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 6 institutions for Linguistics and Computer Science, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MAPublicBachelor's | 6 | 83% | — |
| 2 | University of North Texas Denton, TXPublicMaster's | 5 | 61% | — |
| 3 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 95% | $22,242 |
| 4 | Brandeis University Waltham, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 86% | $25,074 |
| 5 | University of Nevada-Reno Reno, NVPublicBachelor's | 1 | 61% | — |
| 6 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NYPublicMaster's | 1 | 76% | — |
Offered in 5 states
Where Linguistics and Computer Science graduates come from. Each state links to all Linguistics and Computer Science programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 2 | 7 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst6 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 5 | University of North Texas5 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 3 | Georgetown University3 / yr |
| Nevada | 1 | 1 | University of Nevada-Reno1 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 1 | Stony Brook University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 15-2051, Data Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Linguistics and Computer Science program can pursue careers as Data Scientists, Software Developers, and educators in computer science and English. The job outlook for this field is much faster than average, with an expected growth rate of 33.5%, annual openings of 23,400, and a median wage of $112,590 for those with a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 30.4801
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Data Scientistsprimary SOC 15-2051 | $120,230 | +33.5% Much faster than average | ~23,400 | Bachelor's degree |
Software Developers SOC 15-1252 | $135,980 | +15.8% Much faster than average | ~115,200 | Bachelor's degree |
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1123 | $78,760 | 0.0% Little or no change | ~5,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1021 | $96,980 | +5.3% Faster than average | ~3,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Linguistics and Computer Science programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
What graduates do on the job
- Analyze, manipulate, or process large sets of data using statistical software.
- Apply feature selection algorithms to models predicting outcomes of interest, such as sales, attrition, and healthcare use.
- Apply sampling techniques to determine groups to be surveyed or use complete enumeration methods.
- Clean and manipulate raw data using statistical software.
- Compare models using statistical performance metrics, such as loss functions or proportion of explained variance.
- Create graphs, charts, or other visualizations to convey the results of data analysis using specialized software.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn either a Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree in Linguistics and Computer Science.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in data analysis, natural language processing, and software engineering.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Data Scientist, Software Developer, or a teacher in related fields.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 33.5% and 23,400 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Linguistics and Computer Science?+
Linguistics and Computer Science is CIP 30.4801 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Linguistics and Computer Science (CIP 30.48). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the relationship between computer and human language and computational techniques applied to natural language. Includes instruction in computer programming, human languages, linguistic analysis, logic, natural language processing, semantics, machine learning, psycholinguistics, software engineering, and syntax.
How many institutions offer Linguistics and Computer Science programs?+
6 U.S. institutions reported Linguistics and Computer Science graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states, awarding 17 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Linguistics and Computer Science graduates.
How much do Linguistics and Computer Science graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Data Scientists occupation, which Linguistics and Computer Science most directly leads to, pays a median of $120,230 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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.
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. This specialization accounts for nearly all Linguistics and Computer Science graduates, so its figures match the Linguistics and Computer Science program page.
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