Linguistic, Comparative, at Missouri State University-Springfield

Missouri State's linguistics program places graduates above the middle of the pack nationally, with first-year earnings of $29,830 beating the national median by about $2,400. That 63rd percentile ranking means this program outperforms roughly two-thirds of comparable linguistics programs across the country. The $21,500 debt load sits right at typical levels for this field, resulting in a manageable 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio—you're looking at debt equivalent to about 8-9 months of first-year salary.

Within Missouri, this program performs at the state median, though it's worth noting the limited in-state competition (only 9 schools offer this degree). The real standout comparison is against University of Missouri-Columbia, where linguistics graduates earn $35,400—nearly $6,000 more annually. That gap matters considerably when you're starting below $30,000.

The core challenge here is universal to linguistics: even above-average programs place graduates at modest starting salaries. For a student passionate about language studies, Missouri State delivers respectable outcomes at a reasonable debt level. But families should understand this degree typically requires graduate education or pivoting into adjacent fields like technical writing, translation services, or education to reach more comfortable income levels. The investment makes sense if your child has clear plans beyond the bachelor's degree.