Best colleges for Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language by graduate earnings are CUNY Queens College ($48,923), Miami University - Oxford ($38,002) and Liberty University ($34,876), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- CUNY Queens College (Queens, NY): $48,923, 83 graduates a year
- Miami University - Oxford (Oxford, OH): $38,002, 28 graduates a year
- Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA): $34,876, 89 graduates a year
Compare 328 U.S. colleges offering Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 50 states.
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,002 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 13.14 and the Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors occupation (BLS SOC).
About Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language programs
The Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language program prepares students to teach English or French to non-native speakers. This program is ideal for individuals interested in language education and cultural exchange, providing them with the skills necessary to effectively communicate and teach in diverse environments. Students may choose to specialize in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) or French as a Second Language.
Learn more about Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language →
Students in this program will develop core skills such as reading comprehension, active listening, and critical thinking. They will gain knowledge in English language instruction, education and training methodologies, and effective communication strategies, equipping them to adapt their teaching methods to meet the varying needs of their students.
Top 4 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Queens College Queens, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,923 | 83 | 53% | — | — |
| 2 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,002 | 28 | 80% | — | $24,500 |
| 3 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,876 | 89 | 65% | $28,911 | $27,000 |
| 4 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,267 | 13 | 68% | — | $26,250 |
Top 5 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Certificate | $23,288 | 27 | 85% | — | $19,000 |
| 2 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH Public · Certificate | $22,149 | 22 | 64% | — | $25,500 |
| 3 | Alliant International University - San Diego San Diego, CA Private for-profit · Graduate degree Online | $64,580 | 92 | — | — | — |
| 4 | Messiah University Mechanicsburg, PA Private not-for-profit · Certificate Small program | $49,362 | 9 | 75% | $25,675 | $26,500 |
| 5 | Augusta University Augusta, GA Public · Certificate Small program | $36,305 | 6 | 49% | — | $26,000 |
Specializations within Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
2 of the 3 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 13.14 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/CIP 13.1401
ESL Language Instructor 5,419 graduates / yr325 institutions50 states - Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign LanguageCIP 13.1499partial data39 graduates / yr8 institutions8 states
Show all 3 codes (1 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language13.1402
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Offered across 50 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 18 | $64,580 | Alliant International University - San Diego |
| Pennsylvania | 23 | $49,362 | Messiah University |
| New York | 37 | $48,923 | CUNY Queens College |
| Iowa | 5 | $41,267 | University of Northern Iowa |
| Ohio | 13 | $38,002 | Miami University - Oxford |
| Georgia | 5 | $36,305 | Augusta University |
| Virginia | 9 | $34,876 | Liberty University |
| Minnesota | 14 | $23,288 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities |
| Alabama | 6 | — | — |
| Arizona | 5 | — | — |
| Arkansas | 5 | — | — |
| Colorado | 3 | — | — |
| Connecticut | 4 | — | — |
| Delawarelimited | 2 | — | — |
| District of Columbialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Florida | 8 | — | — |
| Hawaii | 3 | — | — |
| Idaho | 3 | — | — |
| Illinois | 16 | — | — |
| Indiana | 11 | — | — |
| Kansaslimited | 2 | — | — |
| Kentucky | 6 | — | — |
| Louisiana | 5 | — | — |
| Mainelimited | 1 | — | — |
| Maryland | 4 | — | — |
| Massachusetts | 12 | — | — |
| Michigan | 12 | — | — |
| Mississippilimited | 2 | — | — |
| Missouri | 8 | — | — |
| Montanalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Nebraska | 5 | — | — |
| Nevadalimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Hampshirelimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Jersey | 5 | — | — |
| New Mexicolimited | 2 | — | — |
| North Carolina | 3 | — | — |
| North Dakotalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Oklahoma | 5 | — | — |
| Oregon | 5 | — | — |
| Rhode Islandlimited | 2 | — | — |
| South Carolina | 3 | — | — |
| Tennessee | 11 | — | — |
| Texas | 7 | — | — |
| Utah | 5 | — | — |
| Vermontlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Washington | 7 | — | — |
| Wisconsin | 6 | — | — |
| Wyominglimited | 1 | — | — |
| Guamlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Puerto Rico | 11 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-3011, Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors, and its national outlook.
Careers in this field may include roles as ESL or French language instructors. The job outlook indicates a decline of 13.7%, with approximately 3,900 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $59,950, and a typical education requirement is a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 13.14.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 13.14 (Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language) maps to 6 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-2011 | Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education |
| 25-2012 | Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education |
| 25-2021 | Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education |
| 25-2022 | Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education |
| 25-2031 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education |
| 25-3011 | Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructorsprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress and make suggestions for improvement.
- Observe students to determine qualifications, limitations, abilities, interests, and other individual characteristics.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs, abilities, and interests.
- Prepare students for further education by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Common questions
What is the difference between TESL, TEFL, and TESOL?+
TESL refers to teaching English to speakers of other languages in English-speaking countries, while TEFL is for teaching in non-English-speaking countries. TESOL encompasses both.
What specializations are available in this program?+
Students can specialize in Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language, Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language, or other related areas.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, writing, and critical thinking, among others.
What educational background is needed for this program?+
A typical education requirement for careers in this field is a bachelor's degree.
How much do Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language graduates earn?+
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,002, College Scorecard (2019); the Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors occupation pays about $65,860 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language?+
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language maps to CIP 13.14 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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.
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