Best institutions to study Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
A general program that focuses on one or more of the Romance languages of Western, Central, and Southern Europe.
30 U.S. institutions graduated 129 Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.0900, a specialization of Romance Languages (CIP 16.09), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs
A general program that focuses on one or more of the Romance languages of Western, Central, and Southern Europe. Includes instruction in philology; linguistics; dialects and pidgins; literature; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Romance Languages program focuses on the study of one or more Romance languages, which are derived from Latin and spoken in Western, Central, and Southern Europe. This program is ideal for students interested in exploring the linguistic, literary, and cultural aspects of these languages, as well as their applications in various professional fields. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of philology, linguistics, and literature, preparing them for diverse career paths.
Learn more about Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics →
In this program, students develop essential skills such as speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and writing. Coursework often includes instruction in dialects, pidgins, and applications of Romance languages in business, science, and technology, equipping students with the knowledge necessary for effective communication in multicultural environments.
Credentials awarded
What Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree55 graduates / yr · 17 institutions43%
- Master's degree39 graduates / yr · 12 institutions30%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship35 graduates / yr · 9 institutions27%
Graduates over time
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 265 |
| 2013 | 279 |
| 2014 | 279 |
| 2015 | 294 |
| 2016 | 262 |
| 2017 | 244 |
| 2018 | 243 |
| 2019 | 235 |
| 2020 | 259 |
| 2021 | 213 |
| 2022 | 187 |
| 2023 | 193 |
| 2024 | 187 |
| 2025 | 129 |
Top 30 institutions for Romance 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 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 16 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 2 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 14 | 73% | — | — |
| 3 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 12 | 95% | $17,613 | $33,419 |
| 4 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicBachelor's | 11 | 75% | — | $37,909 |
| 5 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicMaster's | 9 | 69% | — | $25,814 |
| 6 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 7 | 90% | — | $33,169 |
| 7 | CUNY City College New York, NYPublicBachelor's | 6 | 57% | — | $23,932 |
| 8 | University of Oregon Eugene, ORPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 6 | 72% | — | $29,765 |
| 9 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 5 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 10 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 5 | 97% | $16,260 | — |
| 11 | University of New Orleans New Orleans, LAPublicMaster's | 4 | 38% | — | — |
| 12 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MOPublicBachelor's | 4 | 42% | — | — |
| 13 | Wesleyan University Middletown, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 93% | $16,467 | — |
| 14 | Bowdoin College Brunswick, MEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 95% | $15,454 | — |
| 15 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor's | 3 | 93% | — | $22,803 |
| 16 | University of Memphis Memphis, TNPublicMaster's | 3 | 51% | — | — |
| 17 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 79% | $36,488 | — |
| 18 | Southern Connecticut State University New Haven, CTPublicMaster's | 2 | 50% | — | — |
| 19 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicBachelor's | 2 | 89% | — | $39,516 |
| 20 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 96% | $14,689 | — |
| 21 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicDoctoral | 1 | 93% | — | $40,818 |
| 22 | Pitzer College Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 83% | $23,248 | — |
| 23 | Pomona College Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 93% | $16,571 | — |
| 24 | Emory University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 91% | $20,586 | $40,019 |
| 25 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 84% | $26,083 | $26,013 |
| 26 | University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MOPublicMaster's | 1 | 55% | — | — |
| 27 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NYPublicBachelor's | 1 | 57% | — | $30,534 |
| 28 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NYPublicMaster's | 1 | 76% | — | $43,821 |
| 29 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NCPublicMaster's | 1 | 56% | — | $35,191 |
| 30 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 1 | 94% | $14,854 | $47,208 |
* 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 17 states
Where Romance 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 4 | 20 | Cornell University12 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 17 | Harvard University16 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 14 | The University of Alabama14 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 11 | Iowa State University11 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 9 | Texas Tech University9 / yr |
| Georgia | 2 | 8 | University of Georgia7 / yr |
| Maryland | 2 | 7 | Johns Hopkins University5 / yr |
| North Carolina | 2 | 6 | Duke University5 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 6 | University of Oregon6 / yr |
| California | 4 | 5 | Loyola Marymount University2 / yr |
| Missouri | 2 | 5 | Missouri Southern State University4 / yr |
| Connecticut | 2 | 5 | Wesleyan University3 / yr |
| Tennessee | 2 | 4 | University of Memphis3 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 4 | University of New Orleans4 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 3 | Bowdoin College3 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 3 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor3 / yr |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 2 | Dartmouth College2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Romance Languages program can pursue careers as interpreters and translators, secondary school teachers, or postsecondary foreign language and literature educators. The job outlook for these roles shows little or no change, with an annual opening of approximately 6,900 positions and a median wage of $59,440 for those typically holding a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.0900
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 Romance 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
- 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 16.099996 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 a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Romance Languages.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, writing, active listening, and critical thinking.
What careers can I pursue?+
You can work as an interpreter, translator, or language teacher.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 6,900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics?+
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics is CIP 16.0900 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Romance Languages (CIP 16.09). NCES defines it as: A general program that focuses on one or more of the Romance languages of Western, Central, and Southern Europe. Includes instruction in philology; linguistics; dialects and pidgins; literature; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
How many institutions offer Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs?+
30 U.S. institutions reported Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 17 states, awarding 129 credentials in the year. That is 1.5% of all Romance Languages graduates.
How much do Romance 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 Romance 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 $33,419 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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