by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 184 U.S. colleges awarded 2,471 degrees and certificates in American Sign Language. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 38% of graduates. College Factual ranks 77 schools in its 2027 Best American Sign Language Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $36,601 one year after completing, rising to $47,040 after four years.
Not all communication is done orally. American Sign Language is the visual and motor medium of communication for deaf individuals and the deaf culture. Commonly used in the United States, Canada and parts of Mexico, ASL has its own grammatical rules yet does not have any written form.
A major in American Sign Language will allow you to focus on the scholarly and scientific study of the development, structure and use of these languages. Instruction in the syntax, phonology, and morphology are just some of the aspects of this study. Course load for this major includes Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced ASL courses, History and Culture of the American Deaf Community, Art of Translation, Narrative and Poetic Styles in ASL, and Language Development.
A degree in American Sign Language covers American Sign Language.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, american sign language is a widely-pursued major, with 2,471 degrees awarded annually. 184 colleges award american sign language degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 108.
By level, the 2,471 awards include 209 certificates, 824 associate degrees, 464 bachelor’s degrees, 945 master’s degrees and 3 doctorates.
Women earned 88% of american sign language degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,178 of 2,471). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,426) and Hispanic or Latino (551), and international students earned 14.
College Factual ranks 77 schools in its 2027 Best American Sign Language Schools ranking, including 34 for associate degrees, 17 for bachelor’s degrees and 3 for master’s degrees. It also ranks american sign language schools within 13 states. In all, 184 colleges offer american sign language programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value American Sign Language Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common american sign language credential is the master’s degree: 945 of the 2,471 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to american sign language call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Foreign Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Oral Comprehension.
Students must have good hand-eye coordination and memory as they learn to sign a complete new vocabulary of words and letters as well as learn grammar and syntax. Patience and persistence are critical to learning any language.
Before entering college, you can prepare by taking introductory classes in ASL. It may also be helpful to gain field experience both before and during college, working with the hearing-impaired population. This would allow students to understand this form of communication first hand.
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How long an american sign language degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 209 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 824 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 464 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 945 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to american sign language, at 47.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 47.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 22.6% |
| Master’s degree | 17.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to American Sign Language, with an average median salary of $59,834; the strongest outlook belongs to Interpreters and Translators, at 12.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Teacher, Spanish Teacher, Bilingual Teacher and Hebrew Teacher.
Graduates with a degree in American Sign Language can find jobs in a variety of fields. You may become a teacher or professor to deaf or hearing-impaired students, or teach ASL as a second language to hearing students. There is also significant need to teach ASL to adults. You may also choose a career as an interpreter, working for video relaying services, schools, government agencies and healthcare institutions. Some government officials and doctors are fluent in ASL; this decreases the risk of error and allows a firm bridge of communication.
The occupation related to american sign language with the most projected jobs is Postsecondary Teachers, All Other, at 964,215.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 629,317 | 7.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
American Sign Language graduates earn a median $36,601 one year after completing their program, $47,040 after four years and $43,723 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,601 |
| 4 years | $47,040 |
| 5 years | $43,723 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to american sign language is Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, with a median salary of $77,927.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $68,967 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
American Sign Language includes 4 concentrations that together award 2,471 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Sign Language Interpretation and Translation (1,403), American Sign Language (ASL) (1,057) and Linguistics of ASL and Other Sign Languages (6). It has 16 similar majors in the Foreign Languages & Linguistics field, which together award 26,700 degrees a year; the largest are Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (12,344), Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services (7,420) and East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (2,127). Browse all Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sign Language Interpretation and Translation | 1,403 |
| American Sign Language (ASL) | 1,057 |
| Linguistics of ASL and Other Sign Languages | 6 |
| American Sign Language, Other | 5 |
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