Best institutions to study Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
A general program that focuses on one or more of the Slavic languages of Central and Eastern Europe.
20 U.S. institutions graduated 108 Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.0400, a specialization of Slavic (CIP 16.04), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs
A general program that focuses on one or more of the Slavic languages of Central and Eastern 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 Slavic Languages program offers a comprehensive exploration of one or more Slavic languages primarily spoken in Central and Eastern Europe. This program is designed for students interested in the linguistic, literary, and cultural aspects of Slavic languages, providing a solid foundation for various professional applications. Students engage in philology, linguistics, and literature, preparing them for diverse career paths. Ideal for individuals passionate about languages and cultures, this program equips students with the skills needed for effective communication in Slavic languages. It caters to those seeking to deepen their understanding of language structures and cultural contexts while also applying their knowledge in fields such as business and technology.
Learn more about Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics →
Students in the Slavic Languages program develop essential skills in speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and writing. Coursework often includes instruction in dialects, linguistics, and literature, along with practical applications of language in various settings. Knowledge of English and foreign languages, as well as customer service and public safety, is also emphasized.
Credentials awarded
What Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree46 graduates / yr · 12 institutions43%
- Bachelor's degree34 graduates / yr · 10 institutions32%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship23 graduates / yr · 12 institutions21%
- Post-master's certificate3 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.8%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.9%
Graduates over time
Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 147 |
| 2013 | 184 |
| 2014 | 148 |
| 2015 | 113 |
| 2016 | 127 |
| 2017 | 133 |
| 2018 | 101 |
| 2019 | 119 |
| 2020 | 122 |
| 2021 | 106 |
| 2022 | 98 |
| 2023 | 104 |
| 2024 | 92 |
| 2025 | 108 |
Top 20 institutions for Slavic 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 26 | 96% | $15,315 |
| 2 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 9 | 95% | $14,799 |
| 3 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicBachelor'sMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 69% | — |
| 4 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 7 | 92% | $26,873 |
| 5 | Princeton University Princeton, NJPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 7 | 98% | $13,729 |
| 6 | University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 7 | 96% | — |
| 7 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 6 | 93% | — |
| 8 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, ILPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 6 | 62% | — |
| 9 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 6 | 80% | — |
| 10 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 6 | 98% | $15,013 |
| 11 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicMaster's | 5 | 88% | — |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicMaster'sDoctoralAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 90% | — |
| 13 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicDoctoral | 2 | 93% | — |
| 14 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicMaster's | 2 | 86% | — |
| 15 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicDoctoral | 2 | 85% | — |
| 16 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicDoctoral | 2 | 85% | — |
| 17 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 1 | 96% | $27,025 |
| 18 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 96% | $13,333 |
| 19 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicDoctoral | 1 | 93% | — |
| 20 | Wayne State University Detroit, MIPublicBachelor's | 1 | 58% | — |
Offered in 14 states
Where Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates come from. Each state links to all Slavic programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1 | 26 | Columbia University in the City of New York26 / yr |
| Illinois | 4 | 18 | Northwestern University9 / yr |
| California | 3 | 15 | University of Southern California7 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 8 | University of Kansas8 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 7 | Princeton University7 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 7 | University of Virginia - Main Campus7 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 6 | Indiana University - Bloomington6 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 6 | Harvard University6 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 5 | Ohio State University - Main Campus5 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 3 | University of Wisconsin - Madison3 / yr |
| Michigan | 2 | 2 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor1 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 2 | Florida State University2 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 2 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus2 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 1 | Yale University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Slavic Languages program can pursue careers as interpreters and translators, with an annual job outlook of approximately 6,900 openings. The median wage for these positions is around $59,440, and most roles typically require at least a bachelor's degree. The field is expected to experience little or no change in growth, with a projected growth rate of 1.7%.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.0400
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 Slavic 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 Slavic specializations
The 10 other 6-digit CIP codes under Slavic (CIP 16.04).
- Russian Language and LiteratureCIP 16.0402198 graduates / yr68 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, Master's, or Doctor's degree, as well as a Post-master's certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and critical thinking.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
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 includes about 6,900 annual openings with a median wage of $59,440.
What is the CIP code for Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics?+
Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics is CIP 16.0400 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Slavic (CIP 16.04). NCES defines it as: A general program that focuses on one or more of the Slavic languages of Central and Eastern Europe. Includes instruction in philology; linguistics; dialects and pidgins; literature; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
How many institutions offer Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs?+
20 U.S. institutions reported Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 14 states, awarding 108 credentials in the year. That is 35.1% of all Slavic graduates.
How much do Slavic 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 Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics most directly leads to, pays a median of $60,170 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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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