Best institutions to study American Sign Language (ASL)
A program that focuses on American Sign Language as a visual and motor medium of communication and discourse for deaf individuals and deaf culture.
100 U.S. institutions graduated 1,050 American Sign Language (ASL) students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.1601, a specialization of American Sign Language (CIP 16.16), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About American Sign Language (ASL) programs
A program that focuses on American Sign Language as a visual and motor medium of communication and discourse for deaf individuals and deaf culture. Includes instruction in the development of ASL, ASL morphology and syntax, signing technique, English translation of ASL, formal and colloquial ASL, and ASL transcription.
See also: 05.0211 - Deaf Studies.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The American Sign Language (ASL) program focuses on ASL as a visual and motor medium of communication, primarily for deaf individuals and the deaf culture. This program is designed for students interested in learning ASL and understanding its nuances, including its morphology, syntax, and cultural significance.
Students will gain core skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and reading comprehension. Coursework includes instruction on ASL development, signing techniques, and the translation of ASL to English, preparing students for effective communication in various contexts.
Credentials awarded
What American Sign Language (ASL) graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year460 graduates / yr · 40 institutions44%
- Associate's degree345 graduates / yr · 52 institutions33%
- Bachelor's degree134 graduates / yr · 21 institutions13%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years55 graduates / yr · 11 institutions5.2%
- Master's degree28 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.7%
- Award of less than 12 weeks22 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate6 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.6%
Graduates over time
American Sign Language (ASL) completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 421 |
| 2013 | 555 |
| 2014 | 540 |
| 2015 | 604 |
| 2016 | 585 |
| 2017 | 643 |
| 2018 | 743 |
| 2019 | 840 |
| 2020 | 888 |
| 2021 | 931 |
| 2022 | 976 |
| 2023 | 914 |
| 2024 | 871 |
| 2025 | 1,050 |
Top 50 institutions for American Sign Language (ASL), 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 | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah Valley University Orem, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 81 | 45% | — | $27,618 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 47 | 64% | — | — |
| 3 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 37 | 75% | — | $20,761 |
| 4 | Gallaudet University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 34 | 47% | $14,382 | $37,235 |
| 5 | Boise State University Boise, IDPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 34 | 60% | — | — |
| 6 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 29 | 67% | — | — |
| 7 | Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 27 | 36% | — | — |
| 8 | Grossmont College El Cajon, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 26 | 37% | — | — |
| 9 | Bakersfield College Bakersfield, CAPublicAssociate's | 24 | 21% | — | — |
| 10 | Crafton Hills College Yucaipa, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 21 | 31% | — | — |
| 11 | Saint Louis Community College Bridgeton, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 21 | 21% | — | — |
| 12 | Antelope Valley Community College District Lancaster, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 20 | 34% | — | — |
| 13 | Fresno City College Fresno, CAPublicAssociate's | 20 | 24% | — | — |
| 14 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 69% | — | — |
| 15 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 47% | — | — |
| 16 | College of the Sequoias Visalia, CAPublicAssociate's | 17 | 39% | — | — |
| 17 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 54% | — | — |
| 18 | College of Western Idaho Nampa, IDPublicAssociate's | 17 | 31% | — | — |
| 19 | Vincennes University Vincennes, INPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 16 | 39% | — | — |
| 20 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 15 | 48% | — | — |
| 21 | Los Medanos College Pittsburg, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 41% | — | — |
| 22 | Oxnard College Oxnard, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 34% | — | — |
| 23 | Southwestern College Chula Vista, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 35% | — | — |
| 24 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 25% | — | — |
| 25 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NMPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 31% | — | — |
| 26 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 46% | — | — |
| 27 | Reedley College Reedley, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 42% | — | — |
| 28 | Palo Verde College Blythe, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 31% | — | — |
| 29 | Rio Hondo College Whittier, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 11 | 25% | — | — |
| 30 | McDaniel College Westminster, MDPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 11 | 63% | $18,988 | — |
| 31 | Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MOPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 11 | 33% | — | — |
| 32 | Western Nevada College Carson City, NVPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 11 | 41% | — | — |
| 33 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 11 | 65% | $28,911 | $32,117 |
| 34 | Long Beach City College Long Beach, CAPublicAssociate's | 10 | 30% | — | — |
| 35 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 31% | — | — |
| 36 | Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 40% | — | — |
| 37 | Montgomery College Rockville, MDPublicAssociate's | 10 | 32% | — | — |
| 38 | El Paso Community College El Paso, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 24% | — | — |
| 39 | Lamar University Beaumont, TXPublicBachelor's | 10 | 37% | — | $27,330 |
| 40 | Utah Tech University Saint George, UTPublicBachelor'sAssociate's | 10 | 38% | — | — |
| 41 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 59% | — | — |
| 42 | Pikes Peak State College Colorado Springs, COPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 21% | — | — |
| 43 | Weber State University Ogden, UTPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 46% | — | — |
| 44 | Mountwest Community and Technical College Huntington, WVPublicAssociate's | 9 | 19% | — | — |
| 45 | Cerritos College Norwalk, CAPublicAssociate's | 8 | 31% | — | — |
| 46 | Sacramento City College Sacramento, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 33% | — | — |
| 47 | San Diego Mesa College San Diego, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 8 | 35% | — | — |
| 48 | Northeastern University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 91% | $18,925 | — |
| 49 | North Hennepin Community College Brooklyn Park, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 22% | — | — |
| 50 | Palomar College San Marcos, CAPublicAssociate's | 7 | 38% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader American Sign Language field (CIP 16.16) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 27 states
Where American Sign Language (ASL) graduates come from. Each state links to all American Sign Language programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the ASL program can pursue careers as interpreters and translators, with additional opportunities in education as secondary school teachers or postsecondary foreign language instructors. The field is expected to see little or no change, with approximately 6,900 annual openings and a median wage of $59,440, typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.1601
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 Sign Language (ASL) 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
Other American Sign Language specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under American Sign Language (CIP 16.16).
Common questions
What is American Sign Language?+
American Sign Language is a visual and motor medium of communication used primarily by deaf individuals.
What can I do with a degree in ASL?+
Graduates can work as interpreters, translators, or educators in various settings.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for ASL interpreters?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 6,900 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for American Sign Language (ASL)?+
American Sign Language (ASL) is CIP 16.1601 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within American Sign Language (CIP 16.16). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on American Sign Language as a visual and motor medium of communication and discourse for deaf individuals and deaf culture. Includes instruction in the development of ASL, ASL morphology and syntax, signing technique, English translation of ASL, formal and colloquial ASL, and ASL transcription.
How many institutions offer American Sign Language (ASL) programs?+
100 U.S. institutions reported American Sign Language (ASL) graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 27 states, awarding 1,050 credentials in the year. That is 42.7% of all American Sign Language graduates.
How much do American Sign Language (ASL) graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Interpreters and Translators occupation, which American Sign Language (ASL) most directly leads to, pays a median of $60,170 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader American Sign Language field report median earnings of $30,294 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
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