Best institutions to study Deaf Studies
A program that focuses on the sociological, historical and linguistic aspects of the deaf and hearing impaired, and that prepares individuals to work with the deaf and hearing impaired.
29 U.S. institutions graduated 474 Deaf Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 05.0211, a specialization of Ethnic (CIP 05.02), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About Deaf Studies programs
A program that focuses on the sociological, historical and linguistic aspects of the deaf and hearing impaired, and that prepares individuals to work with the deaf and hearing impaired. Includes instruction in American Sign Language, deaf studies, American deaf culture, structure of American Sign Language, history of the American deaf community, and civil rights of deaf people.
See also: 16.1601 - American Sign Language (ASL).
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Deaf Studies program, part of the Ethnic field, focuses on the sociological, historical, and linguistic aspects of the deaf and hearing-impaired communities. This program prepares individuals to work effectively with these populations, emphasizing the importance of American Sign Language and an understanding of American deaf culture.
Students in this program will gain core skills in speaking, active listening, and critical thinking, along with knowledge in English and foreign languages. Coursework includes instruction in American Sign Language, the history of the American deaf community, and the civil rights of deaf individuals.
Credentials awarded
What Deaf Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree228 graduates / yr · 13 institutions48%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year135 graduates / yr · 11 institutions29%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years75 graduates / yr · 3 institutions16%
- Associate's degree32 graduates / yr · 4 institutions6.8%
- Master's degree4 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.8%
Graduates over time
Deaf Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 31 |
| 2015 | 66 |
| 2016 | 98 |
| 2017 | 260 |
| 2018 | 275 |
| 2019 | 274 |
| 2020 | 360 |
| 2021 | 286 |
| 2022 | 335 |
| 2023 | 328 |
| 2024 | 395 |
| 2025 | 474 |
Top 29 institutions for Deaf Studies, 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 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CAPublicBachelor's | 85 | 57% | — | $26,767 |
| 2 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 58 | 75% | — | — |
| 3 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 39 | 65% | — | — |
| 4 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor's | 30 | 69% | — | $27,726 |
| 5 | Gallaudet University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 26 | 47% | $14,382 | $31,541 |
| 6 | Stark State College North Canton, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 24 | 23% | — | — |
| 7 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 23 | 41% | — | — |
| 8 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 56% | — | — |
| 9 | Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MDPublicAssociate's | 19 | 19% | — | — |
| 10 | California State University - Fresno Fresno, CAPublicBachelor's | 18 | 57% | — | — |
| 11 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 16 | 59% | — | — |
| 12 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CAPublicBachelor's | 15 | 56% | — | $30,628 |
| 13 | Towson University Towson, MDPublicBachelor's | 14 | 69% | — | $32,740 |
| 14 | Phoenix College Phoenix, AZPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 13 | 14% | — | — |
| 15 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor's | 12 | 53% | — | $27,932 |
| 16 | Carolina University Winston-Salem, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 22% | $19,450 | — |
| 17 | Western Nevada College Carson City, NVPublicAssociate's | 8 | 41% | — | — |
| 18 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublicBachelor's | 8 | 74% | — | — |
| 19 | Nevada State University Henderson, NVPublicBachelor's | 7 | 34% | — | — |
| 20 | Henry Ford College Dearborn, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 17% | — | — |
| 21 | Central Lakes College - Brainerd Brainerd, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 53% | — | — |
| 22 | Bristol Community College Fall River, MAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 22% | — | — |
| 23 | Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MAPublicAssociate's | 3 | 22% | — | — |
| 24 | University of Memphis Memphis, TNPublicBachelor's | 3 | 51% | — | — |
| 25 | Connecticut State Community College New Britain, CTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 24% | — | — |
| 26 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 52% | $28,087 | — |
| 27 | Goshen College Goshen, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 65% | $15,430 | — |
| 28 | Holyoke Community College Holyoke, MAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 29% | — | — |
| 29 | Lamar University Beaumont, TXPublicMaster's | 1 | 37% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Ethnic field (CIP 05.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 17 states
Where Deaf Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Ethnic programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4 | 148 | California State University - Northridge85 / yr |
| Ohio | 4 | 144 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus58 / yr |
| Maryland | 2 | 33 | Community College of Baltimore County19 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 26 | Gallaudet University26 / yr |
| Michigan | 2 | 22 | Central Michigan University16 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 20 | Western Kentucky University20 / yr |
| Nevada | 2 | 15 | Western Nevada College8 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 13 | Phoenix College13 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 12 | Georgia State University12 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 12 | Carolina University12 / yr |
| Tennessee | 2 | 11 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville8 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 3 | 8 | Bristol Community College4 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 6 | Central Lakes College - Brainerd6 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 1 | Connecticut State Community College1 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 1 | Columbia College Chicago1 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 1 | Goshen College1 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 1 | Lamar University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Deaf Studies program can pursue careers as interpreters and translators, with an annual job outlook of approximately 6,900 openings. The median wage for these positions is around $59,440, and typically requires a Bachelor's degree for entry-level roles. Overall job growth in this field is projected to be 1.7%.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 05.0211
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 |
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1062 | $85,020 | +2.4% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | 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 Deaf Studies 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 Ethnic specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Ethnic (CIP 05.02).
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesCIP 05.02992,170 graduates / yr127 institutions
- Women's StudiesCIP 05.02072,141 graduates / yr300 institutions
- African-American/CIP 05.0201
Black Studies 764 graduates / yr164 institutions - Disability StudiesCIP 05.0210583 graduates / yr28 institutions
- American Indian/CIP 05.0202
Native American Studies 528 graduates / yr87 institutions - Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/CIP 05.0203
Chicano Studies 510 graduates / yr54 institutions - Ethnic StudiesCIP 05.0200505 graduates / yr74 institutions
- Asian-American StudiesCIP 05.0206129 graduates / yr16 institutions
- Gay/CIP 05.0208
Lesbian Studies 75 graduates / yr17 institutions - Folklore StudiesCIP 05.0209partial data60 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Comparative Group StudiesCIP 05.0212partial data42 graduates / yr7 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Deaf Studies?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, an Associate's degree, or various awards ranging from 12 weeks to 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and learning strategies.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Deaf Studies?+
You can work as an interpreter or translator, or as a postsecondary teacher in area, ethnic, and cultural studies.
What is the job outlook for Deaf Studies graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with a median wage of $59,440 and about 6,900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Deaf Studies?+
Deaf Studies is CIP 05.0211 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Ethnic (CIP 05.02). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the sociological, historical and linguistic aspects of the deaf and hearing impaired, and that prepares individuals to work with the deaf and hearing impaired. Includes instruction in American Sign Language, deaf studies, American deaf culture, structure of American Sign Language, history of the American deaf community, and civil rights of deaf people.
How many institutions offer Deaf Studies programs?+
29 U.S. institutions reported Deaf Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 17 states, awarding 474 credentials in the year. That is 5.9% of all Ethnic graduates.
How much do Deaf Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Interpreters and Translators occupation, which Deaf Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $60,170 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Ethnic field report median earnings of $30,628 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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