1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school A top-ranked private institution focused on technology, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a doctorate in linguistics that lets students design their own focus area. Since the 1960s when Noam Chomsky and Morris Halle led the linguistics program, MIT has garnered international recognition for its research and scholarship. After meeting coursework requirements, linguistics students take a three-part general exam, including completing two workshop subjects during coursework, writing two research papers, and passing oral examinations. The requirements ensure that students build broad research strengths in linguistics before focusing on their dissertation. Program topics and areas of learning at MIT include: Experimental linguistics

Computational linguistics

Computational modeling of language learning Applicants must submit a statement of purpose, academic transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a writing sample. The writing sample should reflect the applicant's ability to conduct scholarly research. Recommended samples include research reports, papers, and theses. All applicants must also provide a sample research summary of their proposed dissertation project.

2 Stanford University Stanford, CA Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school At Stanford University, the Stanford Natural Language Processing (NLP) Group brings together faculty and graduate students in linguistics and computer science to advance the science of computer processing of human languages. Members of the group conduct research on computational linguistics, human language technology, and machine translation. Graduate students can join the group by gaining admission to the Ph.D. in linguistics program or master's in computational linguistics program. Stanford's linguistics department lets graduate students create an individualized program of study, prioritizing flexibility. Program topics and areas of learning at Stanford include: Computer science with a focus on computational linguists

Linguistics with a focus on computational linguists

Natural language processing

Machine translation The Ph.D. program receives around 150 applications annually and admits seven students. Both the Ph.D. and master's programs require applicants to submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a resume, and GRE scores.

3 Harvard University Cambridge, MA Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school At Harvard University, graduate students can pursue a focus in computational linguistics through graduate programs in applied computation. The Institute for Applied Computational Science comprises graduate students and faculty focused on applied computational methods, including computational linguistics. The institute emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration. Graduate students can choose from several degree options, including two master's degrees in computational science and engineering (CSE), which let students complete independent research projects focused on computation applications. Students can earn a one-year master of science in CSE or a two-year master of engineering in CSE. Program topics and areas of learning at Harvard include: Data science

Computational science and engineering

Computational linguistics

Machine learning

Natural language processing Students interested in computational linguistics can strengthen their skills through a capstone graduate course, which asks students to apply concepts like machine learning to solve real-world problems.

4 Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school At Carnegie Mellon University, the Language Technologies Institute (LTI) trains graduate students in natural language processing, computational linguistics, information extraction, and machine learning. Students can earn a Ph.D. in language and information technology or a master's degree in language technology, intelligent information systems, artificial intelligence, or computational data science. The two-year master's in language technology incorporates two summers of research. The master's in intelligent information systems lets students concentrate on human language for language technologies, language technology application, or machine learning for language technologies. Doctoral students spend two years completing coursework before conducting research under a faculty advisor. Program topics and areas of learning at CMU include: Language and information technology

Language technology

Intelligent information systems

Artificial intelligence and innovation

Computational data science Applicants must submit GRE scores, official transcripts, a current resume, a statement of purpose, and three letters of recommendation. The five LTI graduate degrees let students choose a computational linguistic master's or doctoral degree aligned with their career goals.

5 University of California -- Berkeley Berkeley, CA Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school One of the top-ranked public institutions in the world, the University of California, Berkeley benefits from its proximity to Silicon Valley. Graduate students can pursue a doctorate in linguistics with a focus on computational linguistics through the Berkeley Linguistics Graduate Program. The program incorporates computational and experimental methods and linguistic research into the curriculum. During their first year, graduate students complete foundational coursework in areas like phonology and cognition. Doctoral classes in experimental phonetics; psycholinguistics; and language, computation, and cognition train students for research in their focus area. After completing coursework and passing qualifying exams, doctoral students must research, write, and defend a dissertation. Program topics and areas of learning at Berkeley include: Linguistics

Computation and experimental methods

Computational linguistics Applicants must submit letters of recommendation, transcripts, a writing sample, and admissions essays. Berkeley's linguistics graduate program admits about 10% of applicants, making it highly competitive.

6 Princeton University Princeton, NJ Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school At Princeton University, graduate students can pursue a master's or doctoral degree with a focus on computational linguistics, natural language processing, or machine learning through the Department of Computer Science. Graduate students take coursework in machine learning, algorithms, and artificial intelligence, with the ability to conduct independent research in an area of interest. The Center for Statistics and Machine Learning (CSML), established in 2014, brings together faculty and graduate students working on statistics, machine learning, and the data sciences. An interdisciplinary group, graduate students affiliated with CSML study methodological challenges in fields like computational linguistics. Princeton also offers a graduate certificate in statistics and machine learning to complement departmental graduate programs. Students take courses in artificial intelligence, computer systems, and computational theory. The certificate helps linguistics and computer science students pursue machine learning research. Program topics and areas of learning at Princeton include: Computational linguistics

Natural language processing

Machine learning

7 University of Michigan -- Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school Graduate students at the University of Michigan can pursue a computational linguistics research area through the Department of Linguistics. The department enrolls over 30 doctoral students. In the computational linguistics research area, graduate students examine the intersection of computer and human language. In addition to machine translation and speech recognition, learners study computational models of language processing. Doctoral students complete coursework on topics like phonetics, phonology, syntax, and semantics. All doctoral students take at least two courses outside the department to promote an interdisciplinary approach. After passing qualifying exams, doctoral students complete a dissertation under the supervision of faculty. Program topics and areas of learning at U-M include: Computational linguistics

Computational discovery and engineering

Machine translation

Speech recognition

Information extraction Prospective doctoral students must submit an application, a statement of purpose, a personal statement, and official transcripts. The linguistics department also requires three letters of recommendation and a written work sample.

8 Columbia University New York, NY Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school At Columbia University, master's and Ph.D. students can pursue focus areas in natural language processing and spoken language processing through the Department of Computer Science. In these areas, learners study computational approaches to text and speech analysis and generation, examining machine translation, language generation, and question answering in multiple languages. Coursework covers topics like language modeling, information extraction, and the role of linguistic concepts in language processing. Computational linguistics students can work with the Columbia NLP Group or the Center for Computational Learning Systems, interdisciplinary research groups that let students advance their training in a focused field. Program topics and areas of learning at Columbia include: Natural language processing

Machine learning

Information extraction and data mining

Machine translation

Information extraction, data mining

Machine translation Applicants must submit research-oriented reference letters, GRE scores, and transcripts.

9 Cornell University Ithaca, NY Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school An Ivy League institution, Cornell University offers graduate degrees through the Linguistics Department. The department's strengths in computational linguistics, phonology, and language documentation prepare graduates for computational linguistics jobs. The Cornell Computational Linguistics Lab supports graduate students conducting theoretical and applied works on computational modeling. The research group in neurolinguistics and psycholinguistics applies computational linguistics models to study the cognitive neuroscience of language. In addition, the Cornell Natural Language Processing Group brings together graduate students and researchers in computer science, information science, and linguistics. Linguistics students take courses in computational linguistics, natural language learning, and neurolinguistics. The computer science department also hosts a natural language processing seminar and offers coursework in advanced language technologies, providing an interdisciplinary environment for computational linguistics students Program topics and areas of learning at Cornell include: Computational linguistics

Natural language learning

Computational phonetics

Machine learning

10 Yale University New Haven, CT Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school Consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the country, Yale University dates back to 1701. Graduate students interested in computational linguistics can pursue a Ph.D. in linguistics and join an interdisciplinary research group known as Computational Linguistics at Yale (CLAY). The research group brings together students and researchers studying linguistics, computer science, and cognitive science and machine learning. In the CLAY lab, graduate learners study abstract computational models and practical applications in language technology. Current research projects at CLAY include investigations into the representation of grammatical knowledge in neural networks, the construction of practical parsing systems, and learning biases in neural network models. CLAY hosts a weekly meeting to discuss recent research papers and current work by lab members. Program topics and areas of learning at Yale include: Computational linguistics

Cognitive science

Language technology

Machine learning Applicants must submit information on their interests in research and potential faculty advisors, including interest in CLAY. Graduates typically work in academia or the tech industry.

11 New York University New York, NY Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school From its Manhattan campus, New York University offers a doctoral degree with a focus area in computational linguistics from the Department of Linguistics. Learners study the fundamentals of linguistics before pursuing advanced courses and research in their focus area. In NYU's Machine Learning for Language group, linguistics learners study natural language understanding and natural language processing. During a machine learning for language understanding class, learners explore machine learning methods with a focus on artificial neural networks, culminating in a research paper on artificial intelligence or computational linguistics. During natural language understanding courses, students learn about artificial intelligence research and its connection to naturally occurring human language. These classes prepare doctoral students for advanced research in computational linguistics. Program topics and areas of learning at NYU include: Computational linguistics

Natural language processing

Artificial neural networks

Computational semantics

Machine learning Applicants must submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, a resume, and a writing sample. The writing sample must include a term paper, senior essay, thesis, or publication.

12 University of Chicago Chicago, IL Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school At the University of Chicago, prospective computational linguists can earn a graduate degree through the Department of Linguistics. One of the oldest linguistics departments in the country, UChicago offers a theory-oriented focus with an empirical interest in languages. The department encourages interdisciplinary and interdepartmental study, including work with the computer science department on computational linguistics. Doctoral students complete foundational courses in their first two years. UChicago offers a three-course computational linguistics sequence as part of its foundational courses. The curriculum also includes classes like mathematical foundations of computational linguistics, language learnability, and introduction to artificial intelligence. After completing coursework, students must submit qualifying papers and meet the department's language requirement before advancing to the candidacy phase. Program topics and areas of learning at UChicago include: Computational linguistics

Artificial intelligence

Industrial linguistics

Machine learning Applicants must submit GRE scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose describing their research area and reason for pursuing a graduate degree.

13 University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school At the University of California, Los Angeles, graduate students in the Department of Linguistics can earn degrees in computational linguistics, computational semantics, or computational phonology. UCLA emphasizes linguistic theory, with a focus on fieldwork and experimental study. Graduate students can take a two-term computational linguistics sequence, which incorporates lecture and lab learning on theoretical linguistics and natural language processing. The linguistics department admits eight students per year to its doctoral program, making it highly selective. UCLA also offers a computational linguistics master's degree for students planning to earn a doctorate. All graduate students complete core classes, write a master's thesis, and take field method courses and seminars. Doctoral students complete a dissertation in their research area. Program topics and areas of learning at UCLA include: Computational linguistics

Computational semantics

Computational phonology

Natural language processing Applicants must submit a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts. The statement of purpose should explain the applicant's background and their reasons for earning a linguistics graduate degree.

14 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school The University of Pennsylvania offers graduate degrees through the Department of Linguistics. The department lets students pursue interdisciplinary topics like computational linguistics, prioritizing collaboration with the computer science and psychology departments. Penn graduate students specializing in computational linguistics can join the computational linguistics research area, an interdisciplinary group of faculty and graduate students. Penn runs the Linguistic Data Consortium, which compiles and distributes linguistic materials specifically for language engineering research. A valuable resource for computational linguists and researchers worldwide, the consortium hosts conferences and maintains a digital archive of papers in the field. Program topics and areas of learning at Penn include: Computational linguistics

Language engineering

Artificial intelligence

Machine learning Penn typically admits students seeking a doctorate in linguistics, though it may accept candidates pursuing a computational linguistics master's degree. Applicants must submit transcripts, GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and writing samples.

15 University of Washington Seattle, WA Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school Founded in 1861, the University of Washington ranks as one of the top public universities in the country. The school offers a master of science in computational linguistics with on-campus and online options. The computational linguistics master's degree prepares students to pursue careers in tech or a doctorate in computational linguistics. Master's students complete nine courses, and full-time students can earn their degree in one year. Students take four core computational linguistics classes, two linguistics classes, and three electives. Coursework incorporates hands-on work, research, and collaborative projects to provide the skills needed for computational linguistics jobs. Master's students culminate the degree with an internship or thesis. Program topics and areas of learning at UW include: Computational linguistics

Natural language processing

Grammar engineering

Machine translation The program admits applicants with a background in linguistics and computer science. Coursework in programming, algorithms, linguistics, and statistics prepare undergraduates for the computational linguistics master's program.

16 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school At the University of Southern California, the Department of Linguistics enrolls 35-40 graduate students studying different areas of linguistics, including computational linguistics. During USC's five-year doctoral program, graduate students conduct research, present papers at conferences, and publish their work in journals. Doctoral students also complete three graduate seminars in linguistics and advanced courses in their research area. After meeting coursework requirements, students must pass a qualifying examination, which includes written and oral requirements. Doctoral candidates then complete a dissertation in their research area. The linguistics department admits 6-9 doctoral students annually. Applicants must submit a statement of purpose explaining their linguistics background and reason for pursuing a computational linguistics Ph.D. at USC. Applicants must also submit three letters of recommendation, transcripts, a resume, and a research paper.

17 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers one of the only undergraduate computational linguistics degrees in the country, in addition to a computational linguistics graduate program. The schools Ph.D. in linguistics lets graduate students pursue a specialization in computational linguistics. The program encourages students to conduct original research. The Zea Mays Center for Computational Linguistics brings together faculty and graduate students conducting computational language research in an interdisciplinary group. Through natural language processing seminars and a reading group, doctoral students strengthen their computational linguistics training. Program topics and areas of learning at Illinois include: Computational linguistics

Machine learning

Natural language processing Students complete coursework during their first two years, followed by qualifying exams. In the second stage of the program, doctoral students complete additional coursework and a second qualifying examination. In the final stage, students research, write, and defend a dissertation. The program admits students with a bachelor's or master's degree.

18 California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school Founded in 1891, the California Institute of Technology ranks as one of the top universities in the country. Caltech offers a research area in statistics and machine learning that allows graduate students to pursue a computational linguistics master's or doctoral degree. Graduate students conduct research on computational linguistics, mathematical linguistics, and machine learning while earning their degree. A graduate course in mathematical and computational linguistics covers models of acquisition, learnability, and communicative efficiency. Program topics and areas of learning at Caltech include: Computational linguistics

Machine learning

Mathematical linguistics Prospective Caltech graduate students must submit a CV, transcripts, and three letters of recommendation. Caltech also requests a statement of purpose and GRE scores. While Caltech admits applicants from outside computer science and applied mathematics, students benefit from a background in the field.

19 University of Texas Austin Austin, TX Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school Established in 1883, the University of Texas at Austin offers both a master's and doctoral degree with a concentration in computational linguistics through the Department of Linguistics. The interdisciplinary concentration trains students in the theory, technologies, and applications of computational linguistics. Students participate in a cross-departmental reading group on natural language learning and work with faculty in multiple departments. During their first year, students take core linguistics classes. UT Austin offers computational linguistics classes on computational semantics, computing for text analysis, natural language learning, and applied text analysis. Graduate students also take computer science courses on topics like natural language processing and machine learning. Program topics and areas of learning at UT Austin include: Computational linguistics

Natural language processing

Applied text analysis

Computational semantics Prospective students must submit a statement of purpose detailing their interests in linguistics and specialization areas and their plans for graduate study. Applicants also submit three letters of recommendation and a sample research paper.

20 Brown University Providence, RI Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school An Ivy League institution located in Rhode Island, Brown University dates back to 1764. Graduate students can earn a computational linguistics degree from the Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences. The department focuses on studies of language processing, linguistic structure, and computational processes. Brown offers a Ph.D. in psychology, cognitive science, and linguistics, with the option to focus on computational linguistics. The program incorporates seminars, scholarly projects, and research to develop the skills necessary for computational linguistics jobs. The computational linguistics concentration lets students work with faculty from multiple departments to customize the degree around their interests. Program topics and areas of learning at Brown include: Computational linguistics

Language processing The highly selective admissions process interviews 15% of applicants and offers admission to half of the interviewees. Admitted students receive five years of tuition remission and a graduate stipend to support their studies.

21 University of California - San Diego San Diego, CA Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school At the University of California, San Diego, graduate students can earn a computational linguistics Ph.D. from the Linguistics Department. The department focuses on theoretical and experimental approaches to language, with research areas in computational linguistics, psycholinguistics, and language acquisition. Linguistics students can collaborate with faculty in the computer science, cognitive science, psychology, and anthropology departments. Doctoral students receive theoretical and research training, taking classes in core linguistic analysis fields and learning how to conduct experimental investigations. Research training covers topics like field methods and documentation of understudied languages, computational modeling, neurolinguistics, and language acquisition. Theoretical training covers core topics like phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. With only seven required courses, doctoral students can specialize their training by pursuing courses in a focus area, such as computational linguistics. After completing coursework, students research, write, and defend their dissertation before a faculty committee.

22 Duke University Durham, NC Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school At Duke University, graduate students can pursue a computational linguistics master's or doctoral degree through the Department of Computer Science. The inDuke program lets computational linguistics graduate students collaborate with industry partners on research projects. Students can concentrate on areas like machine learning and natural language processing systems. Machine learning courses prepare graduate students to conduct advanced computational linguistics work. Natural language processing learners study theories of semantics and build natural language interactive systems. Program topics and areas of learning at Duke include: Computational linguistics

Artificial intelligence

Machine learning The master's program receives over 650 applicants each year, with highly competitive admissions. Duke recommends a strong background in computer science, particularly for applicants who did not major or minor in computer science during their undergraduate degree. The Ph.D. program provides full financial support for admitted students, and first-year doctoral students can take advantage of summer funding incentives to complete research.

23 Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school Purdue University offers graduate linguistics programs for students interested in a computational linguistics master's or doctoral degree. Both graduate programs let students customize the degree around their interests, with a strong interdisciplinary focus. First-year graduate learners study the foundations of linguistics to develop their research interests. Advanced coursework focuses on the student's research area. The School of Interdisciplinary Studies houses the linguistics department, underscoring the attention to multi-disciplinary training. The linguistics program builds strengths in linguistic and psycholinguistic development, language acquisition, and fieldwork. The curriculum blends theoretical and experimental approaches to linguistics. Applicants must submit transcripts, an academic writing sample, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose describing their academic and professional goals. Purdue also considers an applicant's background in linguistics, research, and writing.

24 Northwestern University Evanston, IL Collapse List Expand List Links Stats Collapse List Expand List About this school Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Northwestern University offers a Ph.D. in linguistics through the Department of Linguistics. The program integrates theory with advanced experimental and computational methods. Graduate students benefit from access to laboratory facilities, interdisciplinary opportunities, and full funding for their studies. Students complete core courses before choosing from electives in areas like computational linguistics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. The program emphasizes integrative research. Computational linguistics students can customize a research plan around their interests. In addition to the linguistics program, graduate students can earn a master of science in artificial intelligence at Northwestern. The program incorporates technical skills to train students in machine intelligence and human-machine interactions. Program topics and areas of learning at Northwestern include: Computational linguistics

Artificial intelligence Applicants must submit official transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and a CV or resume. They must also submit a writing sample and statement of purpose. The highly competitive program typically admits 4-6 students per year.