Best institutions to study American Indian/Native American Languages
Compare 20 U.S. colleges offering American Indian/Native American Languages by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 11 states.
About American Indian/Native American Languages programs
The American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics program focuses on the study and preservation of Indigenous languages and cultures across the Americas. This program is designed for students interested in linguistics, literature, and the rich heritage of Native American communities, equipping them with the skills to engage with these languages meaningfully. Students in this program will explore the complexities of American Indian languages, their literatures, and the cultural contexts in which they exist. This field is ideal for those who wish to contribute to the revitalization and maintenance of Indigenous languages and support the communities that speak them.
Learn more about American Indian/Native American Languages →
Core coursework in this program emphasizes essential skills such as speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and writing. Students will also gain knowledge in English and foreign languages, customer service, and education, preparing them for various roles that require effective communication and cultural sensitivity.
Top 20 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
Offered across 11 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the American Indian/Native American Languages program can pursue careers in translation, education, and cultural preservation. The job outlook for related fields shows little or no change, with an estimated growth rate of 1.7% and approximately 6,900 annual openings. The median wage for positions in this area is around $59,440, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for American Indian/Native American Languages
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 16.10.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 16.10 (American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1124 | Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-2031 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education |
| 27-3091 | Interpreters and Translatorsprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in American Indian/Native American Languages programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
- Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
- Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
- Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.
- Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
- Check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions.
Concentrations within American Indian/Native American Languages
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsCIP 16.1001
A program that focuses on one or more of the languages native to the Western Hemisphere, with an emphasis on American Indian languages, but including other Native American languages
Common questions
What is the focus of this program?+
The program focuses on the study and preservation of American Indian languages, literatures, and cultures.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and writing, among others.
What career opportunities are available?+
Career opportunities include roles in translation, education, and cultural preservation.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a growth rate of 1.7% with approximately 6,900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for American Indian/Native American Languages?+
American Indian/Native American Languages maps to CIP 16.10 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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