Linguistic, Comparative, at University of Nebraska at Omaha

UNO's linguistics program punches well above its weight nationally—graduates earn $33,828 in their first year, landing at the 82nd percentile compared to similar programs nationwide and significantly outpacing the national median of $27,449. The $12,000 typical debt load is exceptionally low, ranking in the 95th percentile (meaning only 5% of programs have lower debt). That 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe just over four months of their first-year salary, one of the most manageable burdens you'll find for a humanities degree.

The 12% earnings growth to $37,792 by year four suggests steady career progression, though linguistics graduates often need time to find their niche in fields like localization, technical writing, or speech pathology. Within Nebraska, this program sits at the state median for earnings, but given how few programs compete here (only 5 statewide), that's less meaningful than the strong national standing. The moderate sample size means these figures are reasonably reliable without being bulletproof.

For families worried about humanities degrees leading to financial struggle, this program offers a counter-narrative: strong earnings potential combined with minimal debt creates genuine affordability. If your child is drawn to language study, UNO delivers practical value that most linguistics programs can't match.