U.S. median for this major: $50,571.
College Scorecard field of study; 16 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 38% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $20,556.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $32,198. College Scorecard.
MSU Linguistics: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Linguistics nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses MSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $7,068 | $29,968 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $10,830 | $45,919 | 1.4 years |
| $48–75k | $16,521 | $70,049 | 2.2 years |
| $75–110k | $22,703 | $96,261 | 3.0 years |
| $110k+ | $28,546 | $121,035 | 3.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (65% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Linguistics graduates 4 years after graduating ($65,667) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $32,256 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Linguistics at Michigan colleges
Every Michigan college we cover that reports Linguistics graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State University | $65,667 | $24,915 | $19,680 | 81% |
| 2 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $55,137 | $15,124 | $13,138 | 93% |
| 3 | Wayne State University | $38,926 | $25,924 | $12,766 | 58% |
8 more Michigan colleges offer Linguistics but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Linguistics graduates
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Interpreters and Translators
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +2.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at MSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About MSU
- Acceptance rate: 85% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 81% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $67,253
- Full cost breakdown · all 105 majors · overview
Related majors at MSU
- Spanish / French / Romance Languages$59,315
- English$49,154
- History$47,224
- Liberal Arts / General Studies$51,436
- Philosophy—
- German$53,183
MSU Linguistics questions
How much do MSU Linguistics graduates earn?
Linguistics graduates of Michigan State University earn a median $65,667 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Linguistics graduates across 89 colleges is $50,571.
How much debt do MSU Linguistics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Linguistics graduates of Michigan State University is $24,915, about 38% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $20,556.
Is MSU a good school for Linguistics in Michigan?
On pay, Linguistics graduates of Michigan State University earn $65,667 four years out, $10,530 above the median for the same major across 3 Michigan colleges ($55,137) and $15,096 above the U.S. median ($50,571). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does MSU rank for Linguistics in Michigan?
Of 3 Michigan colleges reporting Linguistics graduate earnings, Michigan State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Linguistics graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $63,900 in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI area and $72,040 nationally. Others include interpreters and translators.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Michigan State University Linguistics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/michigan-state-university/majors/linguistics (College Scorecard and BLS data).