College Scholarships for Linguistics Majors

Linguistics Scholarship Data, Degree Costs & ROI

This snapshot is built from CollegeWhale’s own scholarship database and planning tools. It shows how many awards are available for Linguistics majors, how much money is on the table, and what early-career pay and typical college costs can look like.

Scholarships in Our Database

We currently have 115 Linguistics scholarships available in our database. These awards may come from professional associations, nonprofit organizations, and private sponsors. We’re actively adding scholarships tied to Linguistics. Check back often or use our main scholarship search to uncover more awards that fit your profile.

Total Scholarship Dollars Listed

Across these listings, the total advertised award value comes to roughly $158,500. Many scholarships for this major list flexible or renewable award amounts. As we continue to add additional Linguistics scholarships, this section will show an estimate of the total dollars currently available in our database.

Early-Career Median Pay & ROI

Graduates with a Linguistics degree commonly see early-career median pay around $65,000 per year, depending on location, employer type, and experience.

Linguistics ROI Snapshot:
We estimate a typical 4-year net cost of college at about $108,584.

First-year median earnings are roughly 60% of that total cost. At that pace, it would take about 1.7 years of early-career earnings to “earn back” your degree investment (before taxes and living costs).

Compare Top Linguistics Scholarships (Scholarship FastFind™)

The CollegeWhale Scholarship FastFind™ makes it easy to discover the best Linguistics scholarships — fast. Filter by award amount, deadline month, and estimated time to apply, then instantly download your personalized list. No sign-ups, no personal info, no spam — just real, verified scholarships.

1

Linguistic Society of America Student Fellowship

The Linguistic Society of America (LSA) Student Fellowship and Travel Awards provide financial support to undergraduate and graduate students who are actively involved in linguistic study and research. These awards are designed to help promising students attend conferences, present research,

Award: Varies Deadline: November Est. Time: Med (~48 min)
2

The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship

The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship – Linguistics and Language Track is designed for students who are committed to international service and who possess strong interests in global languages, linguistics, and cross-cultural communication. This prestigious fellowship helps prepare future

Award: $40,000 Deadline: September Est. Time: Med (~78 min)
3

The National Security Education Program – Language & Linguistics Focus

The Boren Awards, offered through the National Security Education Program (NSEP), provide substantial funding for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who wish to study less commonly taught languages that are critical to U.S. national security. These awards support immersive language

Award: $8,000 Deadline: January Est. Time: Med (~48 min)
4

The Phi Sigma Iota Foreign Language and Linguistics Scholarship

The Phi Sigma Iota Foreign Language and Linguistics Scholarship is offered by Phi Sigma Iota, the international honor society for students of foreign languages, linguistics and literature. This scholarship supports outstanding undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate a strong commitment

Award: Varies Deadline: February Est. Time: Med (~78 min)
5

The American Translators Association Student Translation and Linguistics Scholarship

The American Translators Association (ATA) Student Translation and Linguistics Scholarship supports emerging translators, interpreters and linguistics students who are preparing for careers in language services. This scholarship is designed to encourage academic excellence and professional development in fields such as

Award: Varies Deadline: October Est. Time: Med (~78 min)
6

The Institute of International Education Freeman-ASIA Scholarship

The Freeman-ASIA Scholarship, administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE), supports U.S. undergraduate students who plan to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. This award is designed to increase opportunities for American students with financial need to gain

Award: Varies Deadline: March Est. Time: Med (~43 min)
7

The American Philosophical Society Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Linguistic Field Research

The American Philosophical Society (APS) offers the Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research to support graduate students and early-career scholars conducting significant fieldwork in linguistics and related disciplines. This fund is designed to encourage exploratory research that

Award: Varies Deadline: February Est. Time: Med (~33 min)
8

The Society for Linguistic Anthropology Graduate Student Award

The Society for Linguistic Anthropology (SLA), a section of the American Anthropological Association, offers a Graduate Student Award to support emerging scholars whose work contributes meaningfully to the study of language in its cultural, social and political contexts. This award

Award: Varies Deadline: October Est. Time: Low (~13 min)
9

The Center for Applied Linguistics Graduate Fellowship

The G. Richard Tucker Fellowship, offered by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL), was established in 1992 in honor of Dr. Tucker and is awarded periodically to graduate students (master’s or Ph.D.) working in language-related fields. The fellowship allows recipients

Award: Varies Deadline: Rolling Est. Time: Low (~28 min)
10

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (Linguistics Category)

The NSF GRFP supports outstanding graduate students who pursue full-time, research-based master’s or doctoral degrees in eligible STEM fields or the Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences—this includes the sub-field of Linguistics. The program helps ensure the vitality and strength of

Award: $37,000 Deadline: October Est. Time: Low (~28 min)
11

The Blakemore Freeman Fellowships for Advanced Asian Language and Linguistics Study

The Blakemore Freeman Fellowships support one academic year (two semesters or three quarters) of full-time, intensive study of a modern East or Southeast Asian language at an advanced level abroad. Eligible languages include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian and

Award: Varies Deadline: December Est. Time: Med (~68 min)
12

The DAAD German Academic Exchange Service Scholarship

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers scholarships to highly qualified graduates and doctoral candidates in linguistics and language science who wish to pursue full-degree study or independent research at a German institution. This funding supports research in areas such

Award: Varies Deadline: October Est. Time: Med (~48 min)
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Expert Answers to the Most Asked Linguistics Scholarship Questions

Linguistics Scholarships for College Students

Linguistics majors study the structure, history, and function of language — exploring how humans communicate and how language shapes culture and society. To support students pursuing degrees in linguistics, applied linguistics, or language studies, many universities, foundations, and academic organizations offer scholarships based on academic excellence, research interests, and career goals. These awards help students continue their studies in one of the most fascinating and interdisciplinary fields in the humanities and social sciences.

Are There Scholarships for Linguistics Majors?

Yes, many scholarships and grants are available for students pursuing degrees in linguistics, language studies, or related fields. These awards are offered by universities, linguistic organizations, and private foundations to support students interested in language analysis, computational linguistics, sociolinguistics, and more.

What Is the Linguistic Society of America (LSA) Scholarship?

The LSA Scholarship Program provides funding for students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in linguistics. Key details include:

  • Open to students specializing in any area of linguistics.
  • Scholarship amounts range from $500 to $5,000.
  • Applicants must demonstrate academic excellence and commitment to linguistic research.

This scholarship also offers opportunities to attend the LSA Annual Meeting or Linguistic Summer Institute.

What Is the TESOL International Association Scholarship?

The TESOL International Association Scholarship supports students pursuing linguistics, teaching English as a second language (TESOL), or applied linguistics. Eligibility includes:

  • Being enrolled in an accredited program in linguistics or TESOL.
  • Submitting an essay on language education and its impact.
  • Demonstrating academic achievement and leadership potential.

Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000 and often include funding to attend TESOL conferences.

Are There Scholarships for Women in Linguistics?

Yes, scholarships specifically for women in linguistics include:

  • Ruth Crymes TESOL Fellowship: Supports female students focusing on applied linguistics or TESOL.
  • American Association of University Women (AAUW) Fellowships: Awards for women pursuing advanced degrees, including linguistics.

These scholarships encourage gender diversity and leadership in linguistics and language education.

What Is the Computational Linguistics Scholarship?

The Computational Linguistics Scholarship, often offered by organizations like the Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL), supports students specializing in natural language processing and computational linguistics. Eligibility includes:

  • Being enrolled in a linguistics or computer science program with a focus on computational linguistics.
  • Submitting research proposals or academic papers on computational linguistics topics.
  • Demonstrating strong academic performance in linguistics and technology-related courses.

Awards typically range from $2,000 to $10,000.

Are There Scholarships for High School Seniors Interested in Linguistics?

Yes, high school seniors planning to study linguistics can apply for scholarships such as:

  • National Merit Scholarship for Language Studies: Recognizes high school students excelling in language and linguistic studies.
  • Young Linguist Scholarship: Supports students interested in pursuing degrees in linguistics or language-related fields.

These scholarships aim to inspire young students to explore the field of linguistics.

What Is the Endangered Languages Scholarship?

The Endangered Languages Scholarship supports students and researchers working to document and preserve endangered languages. Eligibility includes:

  • Being enrolled in a linguistics or anthropology program.
  • Focusing on research related to language preservation and revitalization.
  • Submitting a research proposal and personal statement.

Scholarship amounts vary but typically range from $1,000 to $5,000 annually.

Are There Corporate Scholarships for Linguistics Students?

Yes, several corporations and organizations offer scholarships for linguistics students. Examples include:

  • Google NLP Scholarship: Supports students specializing in natural language processing and computational linguistics.
  • Microsoft Research Linguistics Fellowship: Provides funding for students working on machine translation, speech recognition, or computational linguistics.
  • Rosetta Stone Language Scholarship: Awards for students excelling in language studies or linguistics.

These scholarships often include mentorship and internship opportunities with sponsoring organizations.

What Are Some University-Specific Scholarships for Linguistics Majors?

Many universities offer scholarships tailored to linguistics students, such as:

  • University of California, Berkeley Linguistics Scholarships: Funding for undergraduate and graduate students excelling in linguistic research.
  • MIT Linguistics Program Fellowships: Merit-based awards for students pursuing advanced degrees in linguistics.
  • Stanford Linguistics Graduate Fellowship: Provides financial aid and research opportunities for graduate linguistics students.

Check with your university’s linguistics department for additional opportunities.

How to Apply for Linguistics Scholarships?

To apply for scholarships and grants in linguistics:

  • Prepare Research Proposals: Many scholarships require evidence of research interests, such as proposals or academic papers.
  • Write a Personal Statement: Highlight your passion for linguistics, career goals, and academic achievements.
  • Gather Recommendation Letters: Obtain strong letters of recommendation from professors or mentors familiar with your work.
  • Meet Deadlines: Ensure all application materials, including essays and transcripts, are submitted on time.

Applying to multiple scholarships increases your chances of receiving funding for your linguistics education.

Myth: Linguistics Scholarships Are Only for Language Teachers

Fact: Linguistics scholarships are available for students pursuing diverse career paths, including computational linguistics, forensic linguistics, sociolinguistics, and endangered language documentation. Opportunities extend far beyond language teaching roles.

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