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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Modern Languages

274 Ranked Colleges
$31,400 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2021-2022, 2,671 people earned their degree in modern languages, making the major the 234th most popular in the United States.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major” ranking looked at 274 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in modern languages. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their modern languages program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for modern languages students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Modern Languages

1
VMI crest
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Military Institute. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major. Virginia Military Institute is located in Lexington, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 20 ’s modern languages degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Modern Languages at Virginia Military Institute

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major. University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras is a public institution located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Modern Languages at UPR Rio Piedras

3
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New College of Florida
Sarasota, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New College of Florida. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major list. New College is located in Sarasota, Florida and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 ’s modern languages degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Modern Languages at New College of Florida

4
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St Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's City, Maryland

Out of the 274 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major that were part of this year’s ranking, St Mary’s College of Maryland landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in St. Mary’s City, Maryland, this small public school awarded 22 degrees to qualified ’s modern languages students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Modern Languages at SMCM

5

Out of the 274 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Nebraska Wesleyan University landed the #5 spot on the list. Lincoln, Nebraska is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s modern languages degrees to 9 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Nebraska Wesleyan University Modern Languages Report

6
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American River College
Sacramento, California

American River College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major ranking. American River College is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 59 ’s modern languages degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full American River College Modern Languages Report

7

With a ranking of #7, Colorado State University - Pueblo did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major list. Located in Pueblo, Colorado, this medium-sized public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified ’s modern languages students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Colorado State University - Pueblo Modern Languages Report

8
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Christopher Newport University
Newport News, Virginia

Christopher Newport University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major ranking. Christopher Newport University is a small school located in Newport News, Virginia that handed out 15 ’s modern languages degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Modern Languages at CNU

9
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Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, Tennessee

Southern Adventist University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major ranking. Southern Adventist University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Collegedale, Tennessee. It awarded 7 ’s modern languages degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Southern Adventist Modern Languages Report

10

With a ranking of #10, New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major list. Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, this fairly large public school handed out 38 diplomas to qualified ’s modern languages students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus Modern Languages Report

11
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Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut, California

Mt. San Antonio College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major ranking, coming in at #11. Mt. San Antonio College is a large school located in Walnut, California that handed out 53 ’s modern languages degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Modern Languages at Mt. San Antonio College

12
13
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Winthrop University
Rock Hill, South Carolina

With a ranking of #13, Winthrop University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major list. Located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, this small public school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified ’s modern languages students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Modern Languages at Winthrop

14
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University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee

University of Memphis ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major list. This large school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 42 ’s modern languages degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Modern Languages at University of Memphis

15
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Longwood University
Farmville, Virginia

Longwood University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major list. Longwood University is a small public school situated in Farmville, Virginia. It awarded 2 ’s modern languages degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Modern Languages at Longwood

16

With a ranking of #16, Citadel Military College of South Carolina did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major list. Citadel Military College of South Carolina is a public institution located in Charleston, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Modern Languages at The Citadel

17
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University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, Virginia

University of Mary Washington landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major ranking. University of Mary Washington is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 21 ’s modern languages degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Modern Languages at UMW

18
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Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major ranking. Mississippi State University is located in Mississippi State, Mississippi and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 39 ’s modern languages degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Modern Languages at Mississippi State University

19
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James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major ranking. James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 44 ’s modern languages degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Modern Languages at James Madison University

20

University of Maryland - Baltimore County came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major ranking. University of Maryland - Baltimore County is a fairly large public school situated in Baltimore, Maryland. It awarded 51 ’s modern languages degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Modern Languages at UMBC

21
Middle Tennessee State University crest
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Middle Tennessee State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major ranking. Middle Tennessee State University is a large public school situated in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It awarded 37 ’s modern languages degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Modern Languages at Middle Tennessee State University

22
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major ranking. Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, this large public school handed out 75 degrees to qualified ’s modern languages students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Virginia Tech Modern Languages Report

23
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Scripps College
Claremont, California

Scripps College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major ranking. Scripps College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 3 ’s modern languages degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Scripps College Modern Languages Report

24
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Blinn College
Brenham, Texas

Blinn College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major ranking. Located in Brenham, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 29 degrees to qualified ’s modern languages students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Blinn College Modern Languages Report

25
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Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

Occidental College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s modern languages degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read more about Modern Languages at Oxy

Rest of the Best 42 in Schools Highly Focused on Modern Languages Major

Not only did these schools make the top 42 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

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38
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Yale University
New Haven, CT
39
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41
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Fullerton College
Fullerton, CA
42

Notes and References

References

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