Best Interpreter programs in Michigan, ranked by enrollment
Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into.
31 schools in Michigan run programs that feed this job, graduating 599 people a year. The job pays a median of $45,310 in Michigan across about 940 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Michigan that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
25 programs in Michigan that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Michigan (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Michigan page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.0905In Michigan → | 175 | 29.2% | 22 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 2 | Linguisticsmain feeder CIP 16.0102In Michigan → | 71 | 11.9% | 6 | $27,449 | $20,824 |
| 3 | German Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.0501In Michigan → | 55 | 9.2% | 10 | $44,390 | $23,202 |
| 4 | French Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.0901In Michigan → | 53 | 8.8% | 15 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 5 | American Sign Language (ASL)main feeder CIP 16.1601In Michigan → | 36 | 6.0% | 3 | $32,695 | $25,209 |
| 6 | Japanese Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.0302In Michigan → | 25 | 4.2% | 5 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 7 | Sign Language Interpretation and Translationmain feeder CIP 16.1603In Michigan → | 23 | 3.8% | 4 | $32,695 | $25,209 |
| 8 | Deaf Studiesmain feeder CIP 05.0211In Michigan → | 22 | 3.7% | 2 | $31,459 | $23,000 |
| 9 | Foreign Languages and Literatures, Generalmain feeder CIP 16.0101In Michigan → | 20 | 3.3% | 2 | $27,449 | $20,824 |
| 10 | CIP 16.1200In Michigan → | 18 | 3.0% | 5 | — | $22,560 |
| 11 | CIP 16.9999In Michigan → | 14 | 2.3% | 2 | $34,944 | $24,828 |
| 12 | Language Interpretation and Translationmain feeder CIP 16.0103In Michigan → | 13 | 2.2% | 3 | $27,449 | $20,824 |
| 13 | Arabic Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.1101In Michigan → | 13 | 2.2% | 4 | $48,355 | $15,526 |
| 14 | CIP 16.1001In Michigan → | 12 | 2.0% | 1 | — | — |
| 15 | CIP 13.1003In Michigan → | 11 | 1.8% | 1 | $44,139 | $26,675 |
| 16 | CIP 16.1199In Michigan → | 10 | 1.7% | 2 | $48,355 | $15,526 |
| 17 | CIP 16.1202In Michigan → | 5 | 0.8% | 2 | — | $22,560 |
| 18 | Latin Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.1203In Michigan → | 5 | 0.8% | 2 | — | $22,560 |
| 19 | Russian Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.0402In Michigan → | 4 | 0.7% | 2 | $60,240 | $5,500 |
| 20 | Italian Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.0902In Michigan → | 4 | 0.7% | 1 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 21 | CIP 16.0900In Michigan → | 3 | 0.5% | 1 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 22 | Chinese Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.0301In Michigan → | 2 | 0.3% | 2 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 23 | CIP 16.0400In Michigan → | 2 | 0.3% | 2 | $60,240 | $5,500 |
| 24 | Modern Greek Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.0601In Michigan → | 2 | 0.3% | 1 | — | — |
| 25 | CIP 16.0399In Michigan → | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
Top 25 schools in Michigan
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 8 of the 31 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Public · 15 feeder programs | 169 | Spanish Language and Literature | $22,803 | 93% | — | 16% |
| 2 | Wayne State University Detroit, MI Public · 9 feeder programs | 54 | Foreign Languages and Literatures, General | $20,939 | 58% | — | 81% |
| 3 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · 7 feeder programs | 51 | Spanish Language and Literature | $35,658 | 81% | — | 85% |
| 4 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI Public · 3 feeder programs | 43 | American Sign Language (ASL) | — | 67% | — | 83% |
| 5 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI Public · 5 feeder programs | 35 | Deaf Studies | — | 59% | — | 90% |
| 6 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI Public · 4 feeder programs | 34 | Spanish Language and Literature | $32,630 | 58% | — | 85% |
| 7 | Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI Public · 5 feeder programs | 26 | Linguistics | — | 58% | — | 88% |
| 8 | Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 22 | Spanish Language and Literature | — | 90% | — | 21% |
| 9 | Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 17 | Spanish Language and Literature | — | 72% | $17,800 | 82% |
| 10 | University of Michigan - Dearborn Dearborn, MI Public · 5 feeder programs | 14 | Arabic Language and Literature | — | 58% | — | 56% |
| 11 | University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MI Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 13 | Spanish Language and Literature | — | 67% | $16,109 | 75% |
| 12 | Bay Mills Community College Brimley, MI Public · 1 feeder programs | 12 | American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | 30% | — | — |
| 13 | Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, MI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 12 | French Language and Literature | — | 76% | $19,279 | 75% |
| 14 | Madonna University Livonia, MI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 12 | Sign Language Interpretation and Translation | $30,013 | 60% | $16,904 | 63% |
| 15 | Oakland Community College Auburn Hills, MI Public · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness | — | 21% | — | — |
| 16 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI Public · 5 feeder programs | 10 | Japanese Language and Literature | — | 46% | — | 80% |
| 17 | Henry Ford College Dearborn, MI Public · 2 feeder programs | 8 | Deaf Studies | — | 17% | — | — |
| 18 | Hope College Holland, MI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 8 | Spanish Language and Literature | $35,992 | 80% | $21,746 | 79% |
| 19 | Albion College Albion, MI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 6 | French Language and Literature | — | 62% | $16,537 | 81% |
| 20 | Mott Community College Flint, MI Public · 1 feeder programs | 6 | Sign Language Interpretation and Translation | — | 32% | — | — |
| 21 | Wayne County Community College District Detroit, MI Public · 1 feeder programs | 6 | American Sign Language (ASL) | — | 22% | — | — |
| 22 | Calvin University Grand Rapids, MI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 5 | Spanish Language and Literature | $38,068 | 74% | $22,391 | 71% |
| 23 | Lansing Community College Lansing, MI Public · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Japanese Language and Literature | — | 25% | — | — |
| 24 | Siena Heights University Adrian, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Sign Language Interpretation and Translation | $42,890 | 39% | $17,015 | 69% |
| 25 | Kalamazoo Valley Community College Kalamazoo, MI Public · 1 feeder programs | 4 | Sign Language Interpretation and Translation | — | 28% | — | — |
All 31 schools in Michigan
Every school in Michigan with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Public | 169 | 15 |
| Wayne State University | Detroit | Public | 54 | 9 |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing | Public | 51 | 7 |
| Grand Valley State University | Allendale | Public | 43 | 3 |
| Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant | Public | 35 | 5 |
| Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo | Public | 34 | 4 |
| Oakland University | Rochester Hills | Public | 26 | 5 |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale | Private not-for-profit | 22 | 6 |
| Andrews University | Berrien Springs | Private not-for-profit | 17 | 3 |
| University of Michigan - Dearborn | Dearborn | Public | 14 | 5 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit | Private not-for-profit | 13 | 5 |
| Bay Mills Community College | Brimley | Public | 12 | 1 |
| Kalamazoo College | Kalamazoo | Private not-for-profit | 12 | 3 |
| Madonna University | Livonia | Private not-for-profit | 12 | 3 |
| Oakland Community College | Auburn Hills | Public | 11 | 1 |
What interpreters and translators earn in Michigan
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $60,170. Michigan pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Michigan
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Interpreters and Translators page.
How to become a Interpreter
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Michigan
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Interpreters and Translators17 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 05.0211Deaf Studies
- 13.1003Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness
- 16.0101Foreign Languages and Literatures, General
- 16.0102Linguistics
- 16.0103Language Interpretation and Translation
- 16.0105Applied Linguistics
- 16.0201African Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- 16.0300East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
- 16.0301Chinese Language and Literature
- 16.0302Japanese Language and Literature
- 16.0303Korean Language and Literature
- 16.0304Tibetan Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0399East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
- 16.0400Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
- 16.0401Baltic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics(no graduates reported)
- 16.0402Russian Language and Literature
- 16.0404Albanian Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0405Bulgarian Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0406Czech Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0407Polish Language and Literature
- 16.0408Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian Languages and Literatures(no graduates reported)
- 16.0409Slovak Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0410Ukrainian Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0499Slavic, Baltic, and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
- 16.0500Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
Common questions
Answers for people weighing interpreters and translators programs in Michigan.
What degree do you need to become an Interpreter?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Spanish Language and Literature, which awarded 175 degrees in Michigan in 2024-25, 29.2% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming an Interpreter?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 25 programs to this occupation. The largest are Romance Languages, Linguistic, American Sign Language, Germanic Languages, plus 9 more. Together they graduate about 599 people a year in Michigan.
How much do interpreters and translators earn in Michigan?+
The median is $45,310 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 24.7% below the U.S. median of $60,170. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for interpreters and translators growing?+
BLS projects a +1.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, little or no change, with roughly 6,900 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Michigan?+
31 institutions in Michigan reported graduates from at least one of the 25 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do interpreters and translators work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Translator, Interpreter, Medical Interpreter, Sign Language Interpreter among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 27-3091.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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