Best institutions to study Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
A program that focuses on the languages and literatures of the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking areas of the world, including the Iberian, Latin American, and Lusophone worlds.
31 U.S. institutions graduated 625 Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.0908, a specialization of Romance Languages (CIP 16.09), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs
A program that focuses on the languages and literatures of the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking areas of the world, including the Iberian, Latin American, and Lusophone worlds. Includes instruction in Spanish and Portuguese language and linguistics; regional and Latin American dialects; and Spanish, Portuguese, Spanish American, Luso-Brazilian, and Chicano literature.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Hispanic and Latin American Languages program, part of the Romance Languages field, focuses on the languages and literatures of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking regions, including Iberia, Latin America, and Lusophone countries. This program is ideal for students interested in deepening their understanding of these cultures through language and literature.
Students will develop core skills in speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and writing. Coursework includes instruction in Spanish and Portuguese linguistics, regional dialects, and various literary traditions, including Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American literature.
Credentials awarded
What Hispanic and Latin 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 year368 graduates / yr · 2 institutions59%
- Bachelor's degree159 graduates / yr · 14 institutions25%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship39 graduates / yr · 6 institutions6.2%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years35 graduates / yr · 5 institutions5.6%
- Master's degree19 graduates / yr · 8 institutions3.0%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate5 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.8%
Graduates over time
Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 120 |
| 2013 | 131 |
| 2014 | 120 |
| 2015 | 105 |
| 2016 | 120 |
| 2017 | 144 |
| 2018 | 180 |
| 2019 | 187 |
| 2020 | 320 |
| 2021 | 401 |
| 2022 | 518 |
| 2023 | 499 |
| 2024 | 575 |
| 2025 | 625 |
Top 31 institutions for Hispanic and Latin 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 | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearDoctoral | 376 | 89% | — | $34,929 |
| 2 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 49 | 93% | — | $40,818 |
| 3 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor's | 33 | 91% | — | $27,578 |
| 4 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor's | 27 | 83% | — | — |
| 5 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 23 | 78% | $36,004 | $63,106 |
| 6 | Princeton University Princeton, NJPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 12 | 98% | $13,729 | — |
| 7 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 10 | 83% | — | — |
| 8 | Hamilton College Clinton, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 91% | $20,680 | $41,946 |
| 9 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 69% | $19,944 | $24,773 |
| 10 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 8 | 85% | — | $29,617 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 7 | 86% | — | $45,050 |
| 12 | University of California - Merced Merced, CAPublicBachelor's | 7 | 69% | — | — |
| 13 | Whitman College Walla Walla, WAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 81% | $28,508 | — |
| 14 | Quinnipiac University Hamden, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 76% | $36,137 | — |
| 15 | Montana State University Bozeman, MTPublicBachelor's | 4 | 57% | — | — |
| 16 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 96% | $14,689 | — |
| 17 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicMaster's | 4 | 63% | — | — |
| 18 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicPost-degree cert. | 4 | 68% | — | — |
| 19 | University of Washington - Tacoma Campus Tacoma, WAPublicBachelor's | 4 | 63% | — | $34,572 |
| 20 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 55% | — | — |
| 21 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 73% | $33,454 | — |
| 22 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 3 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 23 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 76% | $28,888 | — |
| 24 | Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Berks Reading, PAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 3 | 32% | — | — |
| 25 | La Salle University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 57% | $21,997 | — |
| 26 | Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 59% | $22,906 | — |
| 27 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 28 | Wright State University - Main Campus Dayton, OHPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 42% | — | $23,739 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Erie - Behrend College Erie, PAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 44% | — | — |
| 30 | Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Shenango Sharon, PAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 42% | — | — |
| 31 | University of Houston Houston, TXPublicMaster's | 1 | 65% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Romance Languages field (CIP 16.09) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 19 states
Where Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates come from. Each state links to all Romance Languages programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2 | 377 | The University of Texas at Austin376 / yr |
| California | 2 | 56 | University of California - Berkeley49 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 7 | 45 | Drexel University23 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 33 | University of Florida33 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 27 | Purdue University - Main Campus27 / yr |
| Washington | 3 | 20 | Pacific Lutheran University10 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 12 | Princeton University12 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 11 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst10 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 10 | Hamilton College10 / yr |
| Illinois | 2 | 6 | Loyola University Chicago3 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 4 | Quinnipiac University4 / yr |
| Montana | 1 | 4 | Montana State University4 / yr |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 4 | Dartmouth College4 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 4 | East Carolina University4 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 4 | George Mason University4 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 3 | Arkansas State University3 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 3 | University of St Thomas3 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 1 | Loyola University New Orleans1 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 1 | Wright State University - Main Campus1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as interpreters and translators or foreign language and literature teachers. The job outlook shows little or no change, with an annual growth of 1.7% and approximately 6,900 annual openings. The median wage for these roles is $59,440, typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.0908
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 Hispanic and Latin 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
Other Romance Languages specializations
The 8 other 6-digit CIP codes under Romance Languages (CIP 16.09).
- Spanish Language and LiteratureCIP 16.09056,320 graduates / yr761 institutions
- French Language and LiteratureCIP 16.09011,322 graduates / yr324 institutions
- Italian Language and LiteratureCIP 16.0902197 graduates / yr72 institutions
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsCIP 16.0900129 graduates / yr30 institutions
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsCIP 16.099996 graduates / yr11 institutions
- Portuguese Language and LiteratureCIP 16.090463 graduates / yr15 institutions
Show 2 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Romanian Language and Literature16.0906
- Catalan Language and Literature16.0907
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn awards ranging from at least 12 weeks to a bachelor's degree, with some programs offering up to a doctor's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
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, or as a foreign language and literature teacher.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with an annual growth of 1.7% and about 6,900 openings each year.
What is the CIP code for Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics?+
Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics is CIP 16.0908 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Romance Languages (CIP 16.09). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the languages and literatures of the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking areas of the world, including the Iberian, Latin American, and Lusophone worlds. Includes instruction in Spanish and Portuguese language and linguistics; regional and Latin American dialects; and Spanish, Portuguese, Spanish American, Luso-Brazilian, and Chicano literature.
How many institutions offer Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs?+
31 U.S. institutions reported Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 19 states, awarding 625 credentials in the year. That is 7.1% of all Romance Languages graduates.
How much do Hispanic and Latin 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 Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics most directly leads to, pays a median of $60,170 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Romance Languages field report median earnings of $34,929 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card