Best institutions to study Portuguese Language and Literature
A program that focuses on the Portuguese language and related dialects.
15 U.S. institutions graduated 63 Portuguese Language and Literature students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.0904, a specialization of Romance Languages (CIP 16.09), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About Portuguese Language and Literature programs
A program that focuses on the Portuguese language and related dialects. Includes instruction in philology; Metropolitan Portuguese; Luso-Brazilian Portuguese; dialects; and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Portuguese Language and Literature program, part of the Romance Languages field, focuses on the Portuguese language and its dialects. This program is ideal for students interested in exploring the linguistic and literary aspects of Portuguese, including its applications in various professional settings such as business and technology. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of both Metropolitan and Luso-Brazilian Portuguese.
Core coursework includes instruction in philology and dialects, emphasizing skills such as speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and critical thinking. Students will also learn about the cultural contexts of the language and its relevance in various fields.
Credentials awarded
What Portuguese Language and Literature graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree21 graduates / yr · 11 institutions33%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year17 graduates / yr · 2 institutions27%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship13 graduates / yr · 4 institutions21%
- Master's degree12 graduates / yr · 4 institutions19%
Graduates over time
Portuguese Language and Literature completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 74 |
| 2013 | 72 |
| 2014 | 75 |
| 2015 | 74 |
| 2016 | 65 |
| 2017 | 63 |
| 2018 | 44 |
| 2019 | 52 |
| 2020 | 52 |
| 2021 | 56 |
| 2022 | 51 |
| 2023 | 44 |
| 2024 | 42 |
| 2025 | 63 |
Top 15 institutions for Portuguese Language and Literature, 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 year | 15 | 45% | — | — |
| 2 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 11 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth North Dartmouth, MAPublicDoctoralBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 52% | — | — |
| 4 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 7 | 81% | $13,712 | $40,002 |
| 5 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicDoctoral | 4 | 80% | — | $33,307 |
| 6 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicBachelor's | 4 | 83% | — | — |
| 7 | Brown University Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 4 | 96% | $14,644 | — |
| 8 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster's | 2 | 93% | — | $26,966 |
| 9 | Rutgers University - Newark Newark, NJPublicBachelor's | 2 | 64% | — | $31,335 |
| 10 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor's | 1 | 83% | — | $35,635 |
| 11 | United States Military Academy West Point, NYPublicBachelor's | 1 | 87% | — | — |
| 12 | Rhode Island College Providence, RIPublicBachelor's | 1 | 48% | — | — |
| 13 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor's | 1 | 89% | — | $34,929 |
| 14 | Utah State University Logan, UTPublicBachelor's | 1 | 59% | — | $30,242 |
| 15 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor's | 1 | 90% | — | $35,720 |
* 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 10 states
Where Portuguese Language and Literature graduates come from. Each state links to all Romance Languages programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 3 | 23 | Utah Valley University15 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 12 | University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth8 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 11 | University of Pennsylvania11 / yr |
| Rhode Island | 2 | 5 | Brown University4 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 4 | Indiana University - Bloomington4 / yr |
| California | 2 | 3 | University of California - Los Angeles2 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 2 | Rutgers University - Newark2 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 1 | United States Military Academy1 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 1 | The University of Texas at Austin1 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 1 | University of Wisconsin - Madison1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Portuguese Language and Literature program can pursue careers as interpreters and translators, with a median wage of $59,440. The job outlook for this field shows little or no change, with approximately 6,900 annual openings expected. A bachelor's degree is typically required for entry into this profession.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.0904
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 Portuguese Language and Literature 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
- Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsCIP 16.0908625 graduates / yr31 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
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 a Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree, a Doctor's degree, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
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 or translator, or as a foreign language and literature teacher at the postsecondary level.
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 Portuguese Language and Literature?+
Portuguese Language and Literature is CIP 16.0904 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 Portuguese language and related dialects. Includes instruction in philology; Metropolitan Portuguese; Luso-Brazilian Portuguese; dialects; and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings.
How many institutions offer Portuguese Language and Literature programs?+
15 U.S. institutions reported Portuguese Language and Literature graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states, awarding 63 credentials in the year. That is 0.7% of all Romance Languages graduates.
How much do Portuguese Language and Literature graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Interpreters and Translators occupation, which Portuguese Language and Literature 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.
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