Best institutions to study Language Interpretation and Translation
A program that prepares individuals to be professional interpreters and/or translators of documents and data files, either from English or (Canadian) French into another language or languages or vice versa.
77 U.S. institutions graduated 871 Language Interpretation and Translation students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.0103, a specialization of Linguistic (CIP 16.01), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About Language Interpretation and Translation programs
A program that prepares individuals to be professional interpreters and/or translators of documents and data files, either from English or (Canadian) French into another language or languages or vice versa. Includes intensive instruction in one or more foreign languages plus instruction in subjects such as single- and multiple-language interpretation, one- or two-way interpretation, simultaneous interpretation, general and literary translation, business translation, technical translation, and other specific applications of linguistic skills.
See also: 16.1603 - Sign Language Interpretation and Translation.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Language Interpretation and Translation program prepares individuals to become professional interpreters and translators, focusing on converting documents and spoken communication between English or Canadian French and other languages. This program is ideal for those who are passionate about foreign languages and wish to facilitate communication in diverse settings, including business, healthcare, and education.
Students in this program gain intensive instruction in one or more foreign languages, along with training in interpretation techniques, translation methods, and specific applications such as business and technical translation. Core skills developed include speaking, active listening, and critical thinking.
Credentials awarded
What Language Interpretation and Translation graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year450 graduates / yr · 44 institutions52%
- Master's degree197 graduates / yr · 15 institutions23%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years76 graduates / yr · 13 institutions8.7%
- Associate's degree47 graduates / yr · 8 institutions5.4%
- Bachelor's degree39 graduates / yr · 10 institutions4.5%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate30 graduates / yr · 8 institutions3.4%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship12 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.4%
- Award of less than 12 weeks8 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.9%
- Post-master's certificate7 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.8%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years5 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.6%
Graduates over time
Language Interpretation and Translation completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 665 |
| 2013 | 564 |
| 2014 | 644 |
| 2015 | 654 |
| 2016 | 690 |
| 2017 | 778 |
| 2018 | 831 |
| 2019 | 834 |
| 2020 | 868 |
| 2021 | 969 |
| 2022 | 999 |
| 2023 | 851 |
| 2024 | 960 |
| 2025 | 871 |
Top 50 institutions for Language Interpretation and Translation, 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 | Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey Monterey, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 92 | — | — | — |
| 2 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 70 | 31% | — | — |
| 3 | Durham Technical Community College Durham, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 40 | 45% | — | $26,246 |
| 4 | American University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 36 | 75% | $30,225 | $52,493 |
| 5 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 33 | 54% | — | $30,895 |
| 6 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OHPublicMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 31 | 64% | — | — |
| 7 | Evergreen Valley College San Jose, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 25 | 41% | — | — |
| 8 | Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 25 | 34% | — | — |
| 9 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 22 | 83% | — | $20,334 |
| 10 | Surry Community College Dobson, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 21 | 6% | — | — |
| 11 | Beaufort County Community College Washington, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 48% | — | — |
| 12 | Laney College Oakland, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 16 | 31% | — | — |
| 13 | Community College of Aurora Aurora, COPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 16 | 33% | — | — |
| 14 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sMaster's | 16 | 75% | — | — |
| 15 | Sampson Community College Clinton, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 56% | — | — |
| 16 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NMPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 14 | 31% | — | — |
| 17 | Pima Community College Tucson, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 28% | — | — |
| 18 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 13 | 69% | — | $18,393 |
| 19 | Century College White Bear Lake, MNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 31% | — | — |
| 20 | Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 34% | — | — |
| 21 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NYPublicMaster's | 13 | 57% | — | — |
| 22 | Johnston Community College Smithfield, NCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 13 | 37% | — | — |
| 23 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NCPublicPost-degree cert. | 13 | 69% | — | $25,630 |
| 24 | Alamance Community College Graham, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 39% | — | — |
| 25 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 13 | 25% | — | — |
| 26 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 56% | — | — |
| 27 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 12 | 88% | $29,023 | — |
| 28 | City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 40% | — | — |
| 29 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 59% | — | — |
| 30 | University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras San Juan, PRPublicMaster's | 11 | 50% | — | $9,605 |
| 31 | Southwestern College Chula Vista, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 35% | — | — |
| 32 | Wilson Community College Wilson, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 10 | 27% | — | — |
| 33 | Viterbo University La Crosse, WIPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 68% | $20,655 | — |
| 34 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicMaster'sDoctoralMaster's | 9 | 82% | — | $26,353 |
| 35 | Houston City College Houston, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 9 | 17% | — | — |
| 36 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 9 | 51% | — | — |
| 37 | Elgin Community College Elgin, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 8 | 41% | — | — |
| 38 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicMaster's | 8 | 85% | — | $25,921 |
| 39 | Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 44% | — | — |
| 40 | Johnson County Community College Overland Park, KSPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 31% | — | — |
| 41 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 7 | 89% | $20,914 | — |
| 42 | Utah Valley University Orem, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 45% | — | — |
| 43 | De Anza College Cupertino, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 68% | — | — |
| 44 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 88% | — | $27,788 |
| 45 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 94% | $23,803 | — |
| 46 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 81% | $13,712 | $34,279 |
| 47 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicPost-degree cert. | 5 | 83% | — | — |
| 48 | DePaul University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 68% | $28,141 | — |
| 49 | Bristol Community College Fall River, MAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 22% | — | — |
| 50 | Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 40% | — | — |
* 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 28 states & territories
Where Language Interpretation and Translation 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 Language Interpretation and Translation program can pursue careers as interpreters and translators, with an outlook of little to no change in the field. The median wage for these professionals is approximately $59,440, with about 6,900 annual job openings expected. A typical educational requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.0103
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 |
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 Language Interpretation and Translation 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
- Foreign Languages and LiteraturesCIP 16.01011,917 graduates / yr198 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 types of degrees are offered in this program?+
The program offers various awards, including a Master's degree, associate's degrees, and shorter certificates.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and critical thinking.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an interpreter or translator, and there are opportunities in education as a foreign language and literature teacher.
What is the job outlook for interpreters and translators?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with approximately 6,900 annual openings in this field.
What is the CIP code for Language Interpretation and Translation?+
Language Interpretation and Translation is CIP 16.0103 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Linguistic (CIP 16.01). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to be professional interpreters and/or translators of documents and data files, either from English or (Canadian) French into another language or languages or vice versa. Includes intensive instruction in one or more foreign languages plus instruction in subjects such as single- and multiple-language interpretation, one- or two-way interpretation, simultaneous interpretation, general and literary translation, business translation, technical translation, and other specific applications of linguistic skills.
How many institutions offer Language Interpretation and Translation programs?+
77 U.S. institutions reported Language Interpretation and Translation graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 28 states & territories, awarding 871 credentials in the year. That is 13.2% of all Linguistic graduates.
How much do Language Interpretation and Translation graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Interpreters and Translators occupation, which Language Interpretation and Translation 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 $26,353 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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