by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 127 U.S. colleges awarded 1,865 degrees and certificates in Multilingual Education. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 92% of graduates. College Factual ranks 44 schools in its 2027 Best Multilingual Education Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $61,964 one year after completing, rising to $70,226 after four years.
If you have ever dreamed about working with and teaching non-English speakers, then bilingual and multilingual education is for you. You get to give students the skills necessary to succeed in school by teaching basic academics in their native language and helping them adjust to English. Your goal is to help produce bilingual or multilingual individuals.
The types of classes you will take will vary depending on what school you attend, but you most likely take courses such as composition, foreign language, linguistics, and education courses. You could also take language learning and acquisitions and literacy development.
The concentrations within this major include Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education and Indian/Native American Education.
A major in Multilingual Education covers Bilingual, Multilingual, And Multicultural Education.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, multilingual education is a popular field of study, with 1,865 degrees awarded annually. 127 colleges award multilingual education degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 490.
By level, the 1,865 awards include 11 certificates, 1 associate degrees, 92 bachelor’s degrees, 1,718 master’s degrees and 37 doctorates.
Women earned 85% of multilingual education degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,578 of 1,865). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (800) and Hispanic or Latino (641), and international students earned 73.
College Factual ranks 44 schools in its 2027 Best Multilingual Education Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees and 22 for master’s degrees. It also ranks multilingual education schools within 7 states. In all, 127 colleges offer multilingual education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Multilingual Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common multilingual education credential is the master’s degree: 1,718 of the 1,865 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to multilingual education call most for Speaking, Instructing and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Oral Comprehension.
In this field, it helps to have a knack for foreign languages. You will be working with students that could come from anywhere in the world and it will be your job to help them acclimate in school. In this field, it is necessary to be aware of other cultures and backgrounds and to be very accepting of others. You should have an open mind and be willing to work with anyone. You may also need to work with students of varying ages.
Patience is necessary while working with people who do not speak English as their native language. It is your job as the educator to motivate your students. This means you should be creative and energetic. If you are excited to teach, your students will be excited to learn.
You will be required to complete field experience hours and student teach in order to get certified.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a multilingual education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 11 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 92 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,718 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 37 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to multilingual education, at 50.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 50.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.0% |
| Master’s degree | 10.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to Multilingual Education, with an average median salary of $80,521; the strongest outlook belongs to Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education, at 6.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Lecturer, Educator, Teacher and Instructor.
With a degree in multilingual education you can work as an elementary, middle school, or high school teacher. You can also work as a private tutor for both children and adults. Right now, the teaching field is very difficult to break into. However, any profession it is helpful to be fluent in a language other than English.
The occupation related to multilingual education with the most projected jobs is Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education, at 1,457,958.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,457,958 | 2.6% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | 1,154,676 | 1.9% |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,058,186 | 6.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | 217,050 | 0.9% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 84,106 | 4.9% |
Multilingual Education graduates earn a median $61,964 one year after completing their program, $70,226 after four years and $70,273 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $61,964 |
| 4 years | $70,226 |
| 5 years | $70,273 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to multilingual education, with a median salary of $99,352.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,352 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $83,682 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,366 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,776 |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | $62,634 |
Multilingual Education includes 4 concentrations that together award 1,865 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Bilingual and Multilingual Education (797), Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education, Other (544) and Multicultural Education (480). It has 14 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 323,969 degrees a year; the largest are Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (108,824), Educational Administration and Supervision (44,746) and Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (40,395). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Bilingual and Multilingual Education | 797 |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education, Other | 544 |
| Multicultural Education | 480 |
| Indian/Native American Education | 44 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
