by our College Data Analytics TeamAmerican Sign Language (ASL) was the 551st most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 935 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 5.6% increase in ASL degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 883.
Our 2023 Best American Sign Language (ASL) Schools ranking analyzes 10 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for American Sign Language (ASL) students. Explore this or one of our many other custom ASL rankings further below.
When studying ASL, you’ll learn that giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Talking to others to convey information effectively and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic American Sign Language (ASL) program qualifications, to serve in some ASL careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
ASL degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in American Sign Language (ASL) to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a ASL degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to ASL, with approximately 52.1% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to ASL tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 52.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 25.5% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 11.4% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 8.9% |
| High School Diploma | 1.1% |
Most workers in ASL have at least a bachelor's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in American Sign Language (ASL) careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the ASL career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your ASL degree? American Sign Language (ASL) careers are expected to grow 17.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to American Sign Language (ASL).
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Interpreters and Translators | 80,300 | 17.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for ASL graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for American Sign Language (ASL) graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers ASL grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Interpreters and Translators | $55,230 |
With over 127 different ASL degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased ASL school rankings to help you with this.
American Sign Language (ASL) is one of 3 different types of American Sign Language programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sign Language Interpretation & Translation | 1,764 |
| Linguistics of ASL & Other Sign Languages | 19 |
| Other American Sign Language | 6 |
Image Credit: By PsiДҐedelisto under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
