Best colleges for Linguistic in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
Middle Tennessee State University, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and University of Memphis are the top bachelor's Linguistic programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. Middle Tennessee State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,856, College Scorecard. University of Memphis, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Middle Tennessee State University award the most Linguistic degrees in Tennessee: 35, 28 and 20 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 12 Tennessee colleges offer Linguistic and award 151 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Linguistic program, formally known as Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, focuses on the scientific study of language. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of…
Top 3 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,856 | 20 | 54% | — | $21,187 |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,713 | 28 | 74% | — | $20,612 |
| 3 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,533 | 35 | 51% | — | $25,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Linguistic degrees in Tennessee
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 35 | $23,533 |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 28 | $31,713 |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 20 | $34,856 |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 5 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 6 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 7 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 8 | Johnson University Knoxville Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
| 9 | Union University Jackson Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
| 10 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 2 Tennessee colleges offering Linguistic
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Lee University | Cleveland | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Interpreters and Translators (SOC 27-3091).
Top skills
What Interpreters and Translators earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Linguistic programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Linguistic degrees?+
University of Memphis (35 graduates a year), The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (28 graduates a year) and Middle Tennessee State University (20 graduates a year) award the most Linguistic degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 12 Tennessee colleges offer Linguistic.
What is the best college for Linguistic in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, Middle Tennessee State University leads among bachelor's Linguistic programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,856, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and University of Memphis follow. By degrees awarded, University of Memphis is the largest, with 35 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Linguistic program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Middle Tennessee State University tops the list at $34,856. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Interpreters and Translators earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Interpreters and Translators in Tennessee is $53,590 (median $51,080), across about 710 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Linguistic program?+
The Linguistic program, formally known as Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, focuses on the scientific study of language. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Interpreters and Translators?+
The national job outlook is about +1.7% growth with around 6,900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
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.
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