Best institutions to study Russian Language and Literature
A program that focuses on the Russian language.
68 U.S. institutions graduated 198 Russian Language and Literature students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.0402, a specialization of Slavic (CIP 16.04), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About Russian Language and Literature programs
A program that focuses on the Russian language. Includes instruction in philology; dialects; literature; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Russian Language and Literature program, part of the Slavic field, focuses on the study of the Russian language, including its philology, dialects, and literature. This program is designed for students interested in exploring the cultural and linguistic aspects of Russia, as well as applying their knowledge in various professional settings such as business and technology.
Students in this program develop essential skills in speaking, reading comprehension, and writing, while also gaining knowledge in areas such as foreign languages and customer service. Coursework often includes translation practices and the study of Russian literature, enhancing both linguistic proficiency and cultural understanding.
Credentials awarded
What Russian Language and Literature graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree158 graduates / yr · 58 institutions80%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year25 graduates / yr · 8 institutions13%
- Master's degree8 graduates / yr · 2 institutions4.0%
- Associate's degree4 graduates / yr · 3 institutions2.0%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship2 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.0%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
Graduates over time
Russian Language and Literature completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 416 |
| 2013 | 416 |
| 2014 | 404 |
| 2015 | 378 |
| 2016 | 339 |
| 2017 | 330 |
| 2018 | 326 |
| 2019 | 307 |
| 2020 | 294 |
| 2021 | 283 |
| 2022 | 249 |
| 2023 | 273 |
| 2024 | 218 |
| 2025 | 198 |
Top 50 institutions for Russian 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 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 13 | 68% | — | — |
| 2 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 81% | $13,712 | $60,240 |
| 3 | United States Military Academy West Point, NYPublicBachelor's | 8 | 87% | — | — |
| 4 | Los Angeles City College Los Angeles, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 29% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor's | 7 | 90% | — | — |
| 6 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicBachelor's | 6 | 90% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicBachelor's | 6 | 75% | — | — |
| 8 | Bowdoin College Brunswick, MEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 95% | $15,454 | — |
| 9 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor's | 6 | 88% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OKPublicBachelor's | 6 | 75% | — | — |
| 11 | Dickinson College Carlisle, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 80% | $22,831 | — |
| 12 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor's | 5 | 68% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicBachelor's | 5 | 89% | — | — |
| 14 | Utah Valley University Orem, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 45% | — | — |
| 15 | Middlebury College Middlebury, VTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 5 | 91% | $20,918 | — |
| 16 | De Anza College Cupertino, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 68% | — | — |
| 17 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MOPublicBachelor's | 4 | 75% | — | — |
| 18 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 67% | — | — |
| 19 | Reed College Portland, ORPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 71% | $28,272 | — |
| 20 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor's | 4 | 86% | — | — |
| 21 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicBachelor's | 4 | 65% | — | — |
| 22 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor's | 3 | 93% | — | — |
| 23 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor's | 3 | 85% | — | — |
| 24 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NYPublicBachelor's | 3 | 57% | — | — |
| 25 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 26 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicBachelor's | 3 | 85% | — | — |
| 27 | Trinity University San Antonio, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 84% | $20,327 | — |
| 28 | University of Vermont Burlington, VTPublicBachelor's | 3 | 79% | — | — |
| 29 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor's | 3 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 30 | Grossmont College El Cajon, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 37% | — | — |
| 31 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicBachelor's | 2 | 67% | — | — |
| 32 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 96% | $14,689 | — |
| 33 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 88% | $29,023 | — |
| 34 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 97% | $16,260 | — |
| 35 | Kenyon College Gambier, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 82% | $20,475 | — |
| 36 | Portland State University Portland, ORPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsBachelor's | 2 | 53% | — | — |
| 37 | Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 92% | $18,174 | — |
| 38 | Austin Community College District Austin, TXPublicAssociate's | 2 | 20% | — | — |
| 39 | Central Washington University Ellensburg, WAPublicBachelor's | 2 | 54% | — | — |
| 40 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 49% | — | — |
| 41 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 1 | 86% | — | — |
| 42 | Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 49% | — | — |
| 43 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 48% | — | — |
| 44 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 45 | University of Denver Denver, COPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 76% | $29,726 | — |
| 46 | Connecticut College New London, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 82% | $27,183 | — |
| 47 | Trinity College Hartford, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 84% | $25,245 | — |
| 48 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicBachelor's | 1 | 81% | — | — |
| 49 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 95% | $19,452 | — |
| 50 | Grinnell College Grinnell, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 88% | $14,470 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Slavic field (CIP 16.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 31 states
Where Russian Language and Literature graduates come from. Each state links to all Slavic programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Russian Language and Literature program can pursue careers as interpreters and translators, with additional opportunities in education as secondary school teachers or postsecondary language instructors. The job outlook for these roles shows little to no change, with an annual opening of approximately 6,900 positions and a median wage of $59,440, typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.0402
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 Russian 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 Slavic specializations
The 10 other 6-digit CIP codes under Slavic (CIP 16.04).
- Slavic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsCIP 16.0400108 graduates / yr20 institutions
- Polish Language and LiteratureCIP 16.0407limited data1 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Slavic, Baltic, and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsCIP 16.0499limited data1 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 7 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Baltic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics16.0401
- Albanian Language and Literature16.0404
- Bulgarian Language and Literature16.0405
- Czech Language and Literature16.0406
- Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian Languages and Literatures16.0408
- Slovak Language and Literature16.0409
- Ukrainian Language and Literature16.0410
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, or an award for at least 12 weeks of study.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, writing, critical thinking, and active listening.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an interpreter, translator, or language teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 6,900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Russian Language and Literature?+
Russian Language and Literature is CIP 16.0402 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Slavic (CIP 16.04). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the Russian language. Includes instruction in philology; dialects; literature; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
How many institutions offer Russian Language and Literature programs?+
68 U.S. institutions reported Russian Language and Literature graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 31 states, awarding 198 credentials in the year. That is 64.3% of all Slavic graduates.
How much do Russian 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 Russian 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 Slavic field report median earnings of $60,240 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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