Best institutions to study Foreign Languages and Literatures
A general program that focuses on one or more modern foreign languages that is not specific as to the name of the language(s) studied; that is otherwise undifferentiated; or that introduces students to language studies at the basic/elementary level.
198 U.S. institutions graduated 1,917 Foreign Languages and Literatures students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.0101, a specialization of Linguistic (CIP 16.01), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About Foreign Languages and Literatures programs
A general program that focuses on one or more modern foreign languages that is not specific as to the name of the language(s) studied; that is otherwise undifferentiated; or that introduces students to language studies at the basic/elementary level.
See also: 30.4001 - Economics and Foreign Language/Literature., 30.4501 - History and Language/Literature.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Foreign Languages and Literatures program, under the Linguistic parent program, provides students with a foundational understanding of one or more modern foreign languages. This general program is designed for those interested in language studies at the basic or elementary level, catering to a diverse range of linguistic interests without focusing on a specific language.
Students in this program develop essential skills such as speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and writing. Coursework typically includes critical thinking and learning strategies, alongside knowledge of English and foreign languages, customer service, and educational training.
Credentials awarded
What Foreign Languages and Literatures graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree1,359 graduates / yr · 141 institutions71%
- Associate's degree269 graduates / yr · 39 institutions14%
- Master's degree137 graduates / yr · 26 institutions7.1%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year127 graduates / yr · 15 institutions6.6%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship13 graduates / yr · 6 institutions0.7%
- Award of less than 12 weeks9 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.5%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Foreign Languages and Literatures completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2,286 |
| 2013 | 2,257 |
| 2014 | 2,313 |
| 2015 | 2,309 |
| 2016 | 2,285 |
| 2017 | 2,318 |
| 2018 | 2,419 |
| 2019 | 2,499 |
| 2020 | 2,515 |
| 2021 | 2,395 |
| 2022 | 2,288 |
| 2023 | 2,125 |
| 2024 | 2,036 |
| 2025 | 1,917 |
Top 50 institutions for Foreign Languages and Literatures, 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 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 67 | 86% | — | $37,389 |
| 2 | University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras San Juan, PRPublicBachelor's | 59 | 50% | — | $9,605 |
| 3 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicBachelor's | 50 | 77% | — | $28,658 |
| 4 | Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 44 | 94% | — | — |
| 5 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 44 | 85% | — | $34,099 |
| 6 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor'sMaster's | 41 | 69% | — | — |
| 7 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut, CAPublicAssociate's | 36 | 45% | — | — |
| 8 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MOPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 36 | 75% | — | $35,409 |
| 9 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, COPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 35 | 32% | — | $29,803 |
| 10 | University of Memphis Memphis, TNPublicBachelor's | 35 | 51% | — | $23,533 |
| 11 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sAward of less than 12 weeks | 34 | 91% | — | $30,205 |
| 12 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 34 | 68% | — | $40,105 |
| 13 | University of Maryland - Baltimore County Baltimore, MDPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 33 | 70% | — | $23,742 |
| 14 | New Mexico State University - Main Campus Las Cruces, NMPublicBachelor's | 33 | 55% | — | $27,720 |
| 15 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicBachelor's | 29 | 61% | — | $38,177 |
| 16 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublicBachelor's | 28 | 74% | — | $31,713 |
| 17 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 27 | 63% | — | $32,756 |
| 18 | American River College Sacramento, CAPublicAssociate's | 26 | 37% | — | — |
| 19 | Fullerton College Fullerton, CAPublicAssociate's | 26 | 34% | — | — |
| 20 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MSPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 26 | 67% | — | — |
| 21 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, ALPublicBachelor's | 25 | 64% | — | — |
| 22 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TXPublicBachelor's | 25 | 53% | — | — |
| 23 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 22 | 36% | — | — |
| 24 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GAPublicBachelor's | 22 | 52% | — | — |
| 25 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TNPublicBachelor's | 20 | 54% | — | $34,856 |
| 26 | The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga Chattanooga, TNPublicBachelor's | 20 | 50% | — | — |
| 27 | Fort Hays State University Hays, KSPublicBachelor's | 19 | 48% | — | — |
| 28 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicBachelor's | 19 | 87% | — | $29,560 |
| 29 | Blinn College District Brenham, TXPublicAssociate's | 19 | 11% | — | — |
| 30 | Wayne State University Detroit, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 18 | 58% | — | $20,939 |
| 31 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RIPublicBachelor's | 18 | 73% | — | — |
| 32 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 18 | 79% | — | — |
| 33 | University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GAPublicBachelor's | 17 | 37% | — | $32,521 |
| 34 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 16 | 53% | — | $16,568 |
| 35 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 15 | 71% | — | — |
| 36 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicBachelor's | 14 | 73% | — | — |
| 37 | Delaware State University Dover, DEPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 39% | — | — |
| 38 | University of Idaho Moscow, IDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 14 | 57% | — | — |
| 39 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, ILPublicBachelor's | 14 | 62% | — | $25,921 |
| 40 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicBachelor's | 14 | 58% | — | $29,830 |
| 41 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NMPublicAssociate's | 14 | 31% | — | — |
| 42 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NYPublicAssociate's | 14 | 25% | — | — |
| 43 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NCPublicBachelor's | 14 | 56% | — | $24,058 |
| 44 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TNPublicBachelor's | 14 | 40% | — | — |
| 45 | Golden West College Huntington Beach, CAPublicAssociate's | 13 | 49% | — | — |
| 46 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KSPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 13 | 71% | — | — |
| 47 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicBachelor's | 13 | 63% | — | $35,561 |
| 48 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VAPublicBachelor's | 13 | 80% | — | $45,122 |
| 49 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg, PAPublicBachelor's | 13 | 54% | — | $29,821 |
| 50 | University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville, ALPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 64% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Linguistic field (CIP 16.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 44 states & territories
Where Foreign Languages and Literatures graduates come from. Each state links to all Linguistic programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Foreign Languages and Literatures program can pursue careers as interpreters and translators, with additional opportunities in education as secondary school and postsecondary teachers. The job outlook indicates little or no change, with an estimated 6,900 annual openings and a median wage of $59,440, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.0101
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 Foreign Languages and Literatures 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 Linguistic specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Linguistic (CIP 16.01).
- LinguisticsCIP 16.01022,488 graduates / yr161 institutions
- Language Interpretation and TranslationCIP 16.0103871 graduates / yr77 institutions
- Comparative LiteratureCIP 16.0104845 graduates / yr74 institutions
- Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesCIP 16.0199296 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Applied LinguisticsCIP 16.0105174 graduates / yr25 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or a Master's degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an interpreter, translator, or language teacher in secondary and postsecondary education.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 6,900 annual openings and a median wage of $59,440.
What is the CIP code for Foreign Languages and Literatures?+
Foreign Languages and Literatures is CIP 16.0101 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Linguistic (CIP 16.01). NCES defines it as: A general program that focuses on one or more modern foreign languages that is not specific as to the name of the language(s) studied; that is otherwise undifferentiated; or that introduces students to language studies at the basic/elementary level.
How many institutions offer Foreign Languages and Literatures programs?+
198 U.S. institutions reported Foreign Languages and Literatures graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 44 states & territories, awarding 1,917 credentials in the year. That is 29.1% of all Linguistic graduates.
How much do Foreign Languages and Literatures graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Interpreters and Translators occupation, which Foreign Languages and Literatures most directly leads to, pays a median of $60,170 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Linguistic field report median earnings of $29,821 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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