Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
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Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Debt-to-income analysis for Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other.: The DTI for this program is 75.5%, which is within the generally accepted range for higher education. While not as low as some top-performing degrees, this ratio suggests that most graduates can manage their student loan payments, especially if they secure employment in related fields. If you are considering Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other., compare your expected starting salary (currently $28017) to the average debt ($21156) to ensure it fits your financial goals in .
Degrees with a DTI between 0.5 and 0.8 are common, but it's wise to plan your budget and consider loan repayment options.
Important financial note for Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other.: The debt-to-income ratio for this program is 75.5%, which is above the recommended maximum of 80%. This means that, on average, graduates may need to dedicate a significant portion of their first-year earnings to student loan payments. If you are considering Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other., be sure to weigh the average starting salary ($28017) against the typical student debt ($21156), and explore scholarships, grants, or alternative funding sources to reduce your financial burden in and beyond.
Key Insights
Considering Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other.? This major is known for its blend of hands-on learning and career-ready skills. Graduates often start out earning $28017, and with an average student debt of $21156, the debt-to-income ratio is 0.76—pretty reasonable for most students.
With more than 7681 students earning this degree each year, you’ll be part of a vibrant community. Whether you’re interested in job security, making a difference, or just want a degree that opens doors, Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other. is a smart choice. Don’t forget: internships, networking, and campus involvement can make your experience even more valuable.
Degree Overview
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other (CIP 16.0199) is a specialized category for advanced language analysts who study the intersection of human speech, culture, and technology. While a standard language major focuses on fluency in one tongue, professionals in this "Other" category are "Language Scientists." They work on computational linguistics, forensic speech analysis, or the revitalization of endangered languages. It is a path for "analytical communicators" who want to understand the deep structural "code" that allows humans to share thoughts.
This field is ideal for "pattern seekers"—individuals who are fascinated by the logic of grammar, the evolution of slang, and how machines can be taught to understand human emotion through text.
What Is an "Other" Linguistics and Related Studies Degree?
A degree in this category is a multidisciplinary path that emphasizes structural analysis, cross-cultural comparison, and data-driven language research. You will study the mechanics of sound (Phonetics) and the rules of meaning (Semantics), but your focus will be on applied applications. Because this code houses emerging specialties, your studies might focus on Natural Language Processing (NLP) for AI, Dialectology in legal settings, or Orthography design for unwritten languages. It prepares you to be a "Language Architect" who can navigate the complex relationship between what we say and how we think.
Schools offer this degree to:
- Train "Computational Linguists" who help develop voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant
- Develop experts in Comparative Philology, tracking how languages branch off and evolve over thousands of years
- Prepare professionals for Forensic Linguistics, analyzing ransom notes or social media posts to identify anonymous authors
- Study Language Documentation, recording and preserving the world's rarest languages before they disappear
What Will You Learn?
Students learn that language is a "biological and digital system"; they focus on the underlying logic that makes communication possible across different cultures.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Most students learn to:
- Master Phonetic Transcription—using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to record the exact sounds of any human speech
- Use "Syntax Modeling" to map out the hidden rules that govern how sentences are built
- Design Corpus Research Methods—using software to analyze millions of words to find patterns in how people talk
- Perform Acoustic Analysis—using spectrograms to "see" the physical wave patterns of speech
- Utilize Translation Logic—understanding why some concepts are "untranslatable" and how to bridge those gaps
- Understand Sociolinguistics—how gender, class, and geography change the way we use language
Topics You May Explore
Coursework is a blend of social science, logic, and computer science:
- Morphology: The study of how words are formed from smaller pieces (like "un-read-able").
- Psycholinguistics: How the human brain processes and stores language in real-time.
- Historical Linguistics: The "detective work" of tracing modern languages back to ancient "Mother Tongues."
- Pragmatics: Understanding how context changes meaning (e.g., why "Can you pass the salt?" is a request, not a question about your physical ability).
- Machine Translation Fundamentals: The math and logic behind tools like Google Translate.
- Field Methods: Learning how to interview native speakers to map out an unknown language.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
Graduates find roles as specialized analysts, researchers, and consultants in the tech, government, and academic sectors.
Common job roles include:
- NLP Data Scientist: Training Large Language Models (LLMs) to understand human intent and nuance.
- Localization Specialist: Ensuring that software and apps feel "native" to different cultures, not just translated.
- Forensic Linguist: Working with law enforcement to analyze threats or verify the authenticity of documents.
- Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant: Helping people with speech disorders understand the mechanics of sound.
- Intelligence Analyst: Working for government agencies (like the CIA or NSA) to decode and analyze foreign communications.
- Lexicographer: Researching and writing definitions for modern dictionaries and databases.
Where Can You Work?
Linguistics specialists are the "translators of the future" in several domains:
- Tech Companies: Working for OpenAI, Meta, or Google on the future of AI communication.
- International Organizations: Supporting the UN or NGOs in cross-cultural diplomacy and aid.
- Law and Justice: Providing expert testimony in courtrooms regarding speech patterns or trademark disputes.
- Education and Literacy: Designing the curriculum for second-language learners or minority language schools.
- Entertainment: Creating "Conlangs" (constructed languages) for movies and games, like Dothraki or Elvish.
How Much Can You Earn?
Because of the explosion of AI and voice technology, linguistic specialists with technical skills now command much higher salaries than in the past.
- Computational Linguists/NLP Engineers: Median annual salary of approximately $95,000–$145,000.
- Localization Managers: Salaries typically range from $75,000 to $110,000+.
- Intelligence/Forensic Analysts: Median annual salary of around $70,000–$105,000.
- Entry-Level Language Researchers: Often start between $50,000 and $65,000.
Is This Degree Hard?
The difficulty is in the extreme level of abstraction. You must be comfortable with formal logic and complex "mapping." It is not about "liking books"; it is about mathematical precision in speech. You have to be able to look at a sentence and see it as a structural tree rather than just a thought. It requires a highly analytical and objective mindset. It is a research-intensive major that requires a high degree of patience for analyzing tiny details in audio recordings or text databases.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a good fit if you:
- Are "that person" who notices the logic behind accents and word choices
- Love solving puzzles, codes, and logic games
- Are fascinated by how different cultures view the world through their vocabulary
- Want a career that bridges the gap between the Humanities and Computer Science
- Are interested in the "Big Questions" of how humans evolved to communicate
How to Prepare in High School
- Take a Foreign Language (or two); focus on the "why" of the grammar more than just memorizing words
- Take AP Psychology and Computer Science; they provide the cognitive and digital tools for linguistics
- Practice Pattern Recognition—logic puzzles and coding exercises are excellent training
- Join a Speech or Debate team to understand the power of rhetoric and word choice
- Read about Endangered Languages to see the cultural importance of linguistic diversity
The ability to apply rigorous structural logic and analytical mastery to the complexities of human communication is the hallmark of a successful professional in this field.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor