Best colleges for American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
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.
20 U.S. institutions graduated 72 American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.1001, a specialization of American Indian/Native American Languages (CIP 16.10), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs
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. Includes instruction in philology; oral and written literatures; Inuit and Aleut languages; North American language families, including, but not limited to, Algonkian, Athabascan, Siouan, Muskogean, Iroquoian, Kumeyaay, Yuman, Mayan, Zapotecan, and Uto-Aztecan; South American language families, including, but not limited to, Andean-Equatorial, Ge-Pano-Carib, and Macro-Chibchan; and other minor languages.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The American Indian/Native American Languages program focuses on the study of languages native to the Western Hemisphere, particularly American Indian languages. This program is designed for students interested in linguistics, literature, and the preservation of native languages, offering a comprehensive understanding of various language families and their cultural contexts.
Students in this program will develop skills in speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and writing. Coursework typically includes philology, oral and written literatures, and the study of diverse language families, equipping students with knowledge essential for effective communication in both academic and professional settings.
Credentials awarded
What American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year31 graduates / yr · 10 institutions43%
- Associate's degree14 graduates / yr · 4 institutions19%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years12 graduates / yr · 1 institution17%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years9 graduates / yr · 3 institutions13%
- Master's degree4 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.6%
- Bachelor's degree2 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.8%
Graduates over time
American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 25 |
| 2015 | 35 |
| 2016 | 44 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 45 |
| 2019 | 37 |
| 2020 | 43 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 46 |
| 2023 | 47 |
| 2024 | 58 |
| 2025 | 72 |
Top 20 institutions for American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bay Mills Community College Brimley, MIPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 12 | 30% | — |
| 2 | College of the Muscogee Nation Okmulgee, OKPublicAssociate's | 8 | 23% | — |
| 3 | University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 30% | — |
| 4 | University of Alaska Southeast Juneau, AKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 6 | 28% | — |
| 5 | Turtle Mountain College Belcourt, NDPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 43% | $3,883 |
| 6 | Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Cloquet, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 26% | — |
| 7 | University of Hawaii at Hilo Hilo, HIPublicMaster's | 4 | 48% | — |
| 8 | Aaniiih Nakoda College Harlem, MTPublicAssociate's | 4 | 34% | — |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 49% | — |
| 10 | University of Southern Maine Portland, MEPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 40% | — |
| 11 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor's | 2 | 85% | — |
| 12 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 62% | — |
| 13 | Sisseton Wahpeton College Sisseton, SDPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 2 | 21% | — |
| 14 | White Earth Tribal and Community College Mahnomen, MNPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 10% | $6,884 |
| 15 | Bemidji State University Bemidji, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 48% | — |
| 16 | Chief Dull Knife College Lame Deer, MTPublicAssociate's | 1 | 0% | — |
| 17 | Fort Peck Community College Poplar, MTPublicAssociate's | 1 | 17% | — |
| 18 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 84% | $28,851 |
| 19 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 64% | — |
| 20 | Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University Hayward, WIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 23% | — |
Offered in 11 states
Where American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates come from. Each state links to all American Indian/Native American Languages programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 2 | 12 | University of Alaska Anchorage6 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 12 | Bay Mills Community College12 / yr |
| Minnesota | 4 | 11 | Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College6 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 8 | College of the Muscogee Nation8 / yr |
| Montana | 3 | 6 | Aaniiih Nakoda College4 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 6 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee4 / yr |
| North Dakota | 1 | 6 | Turtle Mountain College6 / yr |
| South Dakota | 2 | 4 | South Dakota State University2 / yr |
| Hawaii | 1 | 4 | University of Hawaii at Hilo4 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 2 | University of Southern Maine2 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 1 | Syracuse University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the program can pursue careers as interpreters and translators, with an annual growth outlook of 1.7% and approximately 6,900 annual job openings. The median wage for these positions is $59,440, and a typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.1001
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Interpreters and Translatorsprimary SOC 27-3091 | $60,170 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~6,900 | Bachelor's degree |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education SOC 25-2031 | $72,040 | -1.6% Decline | ~66,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1124 | $79,350 | -0.2% Little or no change | ~1,900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What is the focus of the American Indian/Native American Languages program?+
The program focuses on the study of American Indian languages and other Native American languages, emphasizing their literatures and linguistics.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking.
What careers can I pursue after completing this program?+
You can work as an interpreter or translator, among other roles in education and linguistics.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with an expected growth of 1.7% and around 6,900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics?+
American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics is CIP 16.1001 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within American Indian/Native American Languages (CIP 16.10). NCES defines it as: 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. Includes instruction in philology; oral and written literatures; Inuit and Aleut languages; North American language families, including, but not limited to, Algonkian, Athabascan, Siouan, Muskogean, Iroquoian, Kumeyaay, Yuman, Mayan, Zapotecan, and Uto-Aztecan; South American language families, including, but not limited to, Andean-Equatorial, Ge-Pano-Carib, and Macro-Chibchan; and other minor languages.
How many institutions offer American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs?+
20 U.S. institutions reported American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 11 states, awarding 72 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all American Indian/Native American Languages graduates.
How much do American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Interpreters and Translators occupation, which American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics most directly leads to, pays a median of $60,170 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all American Indian/Native American Languages graduates, so its figures match the American Indian/Native American Languages program page.
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