by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 329 U.S. colleges awarded 5,483 degrees and certificates in Teaching English or French. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 93% of graduates. College Factual ranks 116 schools in its 2027 Best Teaching English or French Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $61,547 one year after completing, rising to $66,575 after four years.
Teaching a second language to a student can be a great way to open up their eyes to new experiences and perspectives. French and English as a second language are two fields with high demand. French teachers work in primary and secondary classrooms with students who may or may not be familiar with the language. ESL teachers have the important job of teaching students who are not native speakers of English.
Students in America who do not speak English are truly at a disadvantage. You can help students assimilate and adapt to the culture and language so that they have the necessary skills to succeed in school and in life. You will directly impact your students immediately as English is needed in every aspect of life in the U.S. You may work with students as young as Kindergarteners to adult learners.
Courses you will be required to take will include course in French or English as well as teaching courses such as literacy, contemporary issues, and educational psychology and also courses about other cultures.
A major in Teaching English or French explores Teaching English Or French As A Second Or Foreign Language.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, teaching english or french is a popular field of study, with 5,483 degrees awarded annually. 329 colleges award teaching english or french degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 492.
By level, the 5,483 awards include 22 certificates, 5 associate degrees, 267 bachelor’s degrees, 5,108 master’s degrees and 40 doctorates.
Women earned 83% of teaching english or french degrees and certificates in the latest year (4,555 of 5,483). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,548) and Hispanic or Latino (1,161), and international students earned 611.
College Factual ranks 116 schools in its 2027 Best Teaching English or French Schools ranking, including 8 for bachelor’s degrees and 69 for master’s degrees. It also ranks teaching english or french schools within 30 states. In all, 329 colleges offer teaching english or french programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Teaching English or French Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common teaching english or french credential is the master’s degree: 5,108 of the 5,483 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to teaching english or french call most for Instructing, Speaking and Learning Strategies, 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.
If you are interested in other languages and cultures and like to figure out how to effectively communicate with other people, this major is for you. You should have an open mind and be willing to learn from your students in order to help them succeed and develop.
Just like any other teacher, you should be creative, patient, and organized. These three traits will allow you to be effective and to be ready to teach. Just because you know the language doesn't mean that you'll be a good teacher. Students should work hard at improving their teaching skills and learn different instructional practices. This will allow you to connect with more students and different kinds of learners.
You should have a strong background in working with students either as a camp counselor or a coach or a tutor and you should also have strong content knowledge of French or English. You will also need to spend a semester teaching in a classroom.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a teaching english or french degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 22 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 267 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,108 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 40 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to teaching english or french, at 57.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 57.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 11.2% |
| Master’s degree | 10.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
| Some college courses | 3.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Teaching English or French, with an average median salary of $77,027; the strongest outlook belongs to Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education, at 6.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Teacher, Montessori Teacher, Classroom Teacher and Physical Fitness Teacher.
Majoring in English or French Education will allow you to become an English or French as a Second Language Teacher. You will work with smaller size classrooms and be a main support system for students who do not know the language. You will work with other teachers to try to help catch the student up to his peers. This is a job that will be in high demand as more students come to school from families who do not speak English.
The occupation related to teaching english or french 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% |
| 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% |
Teaching English or French graduates earn a median $61,547 one year after completing their program, $66,575 after four years and $64,532 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $61,547 |
| 4 years | $66,575 |
| 5 years | $64,532 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to teaching english or french, with a median salary of $99,352.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,352 |
| 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 |
Teaching English or French includes 2 concentrations that together award 5,483 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor (5,444) and Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Other (39). It has 14 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 320,351 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 |
|---|---|
| Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor | 5,444 |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Other | 39 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 108,824 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 44,746 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 40,395 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 35,428 |
| Education, General | 26,982 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 23,141 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 14,088 |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 9,479 |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | 5,808 |
| Education, Other | 4,291 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
