Best institutions to study Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Any instructional program in Romance languages, literatures, and linguistics not listed above.
11 U.S. institutions graduated 96 Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.0999, 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
Any instructional program in Romance languages, literatures, and linguistics not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Romance Languages program focuses on the study of Romance languages, literatures, and linguistics, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of these fields. This program is ideal for individuals interested in exploring the cultural and linguistic aspects of Romance languages, preparing them for various careers in language and education.
Learn more about Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics →
Students in the Romance Languages program develop essential skills such as speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and writing. Coursework often includes critical thinking and learning strategies, alongside knowledge of English and foreign languages, customer service, and education.
Credentials awarded
What Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship38 graduates / yr · 6 institutions40%
- Bachelor's degree35 graduates / yr · 6 institutions37%
- Master's degree18 graduates / yr · 5 institutions19%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year5 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.2%
Graduates over time
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 185 |
| 2013 | 210 |
| 2014 | 155 |
| 2015 | 162 |
| 2016 | 163 |
| 2017 | 181 |
| 2018 | 137 |
| 2019 | 128 |
| 2020 | 134 |
| 2021 | 110 |
| 2022 | 100 |
| 2023 | 118 |
| 2024 | 73 |
| 2025 | 96 |
Top 11 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 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 29 | 91% | — | $32,508 |
| 2 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 20 | 88% | — | $27,815 |
| 3 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 19 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 4 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicDoctoralMaster's | 7 | 85% | — | $31,622 |
| 5 | Indiana University - Southeast New Albany, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 39% | — | — |
| 6 | Appalachian State University Boone, NCPublicMaster's | 4 | 75% | — | — |
| 7 | Rice University Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 95% | $13,264 | — |
| 8 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicDoctoral | 3 | 75% | — | $30,504 |
| 9 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicDoctoral | 2 | 91% | — | $27,578 |
| 10 | Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 82% | $19,073 | — |
| 11 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
* 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 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 2 | 33 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill29 / yr |
| Ohio | 2 | 23 | Ohio State University - Main Campus20 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 19 | University of Chicago19 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 7 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities7 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 5 | Indiana University - Southeast5 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 4 | Rice University4 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 2 | University of Florida2 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 | Bryn Mawr College2 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1 | Boston University1 / 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, with an annual job outlook of 6,900 openings and a median wage of $59,440. Most positions typically require at least a bachelor's degree, and the field is expected to experience little or no change in growth at 1.7%.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.0999
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 16.0900129 graduates / yr30 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 degree, Master's degree, or a Doctor's degree in Romance Languages.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and writing.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as an interpreter or translator, and also as a secondary school teacher or a postsecondary foreign language teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with an annual opening of 6,900 positions.
What is the CIP code for Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics?+
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics is CIP 16.0999 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Romance Languages (CIP 16.09). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in Romance languages, literatures, and linguistics not listed above.
How many institutions offer Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs?+
11 U.S. institutions reported Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states, awarding 96 credentials in the year. That is 1.1% 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 $30,504 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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