by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2 U.S. colleges awarded 6 degrees and certificates in Linguistics of ASL & Other Sign Languages. Graduates earn a median $36,601 one year after completing, rising to $47,040 after four years.
Studying Linguistics of ASL & Other Sign Languages explores Linguistics Of Asl And Other Sign Languages. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific And Scholarly Study Of The Development, Structure, And Use Of American Sign Language (Asl) And Other Visual Signed Languages, Both As Vehicles For Communication Within The Deaf Community And In Relation To Spoken And Written Languages. Includes Instruction In Cognitive Linguistics; Asl And Sign Language Phonology, Syntax, And Morphology; Sociolinguistics Of The Deaf Community; Comparative Linguistics; And Studies Of Specific Sign Languages, Including, But Not Limited To, Asl, Auslan (Australian Sign Language), Lsf (French Sign Language), Shuwa Jiten (Japanese Sign Language), Hamnosys (German Sign Language), And Gestuno.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, linguistics of asl & other sign languages draws strong interest, with 6 degrees awarded annually. 2 colleges award linguistics of asl & other sign languages degrees, an average of 3 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 5.
All 6 of the awards are master’s degrees, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 67% of linguistics of asl & other sign languages degrees and certificates in the latest year (4 of 6). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (3) and Hispanic or Latino (2).
O*NET rates Speaking the most important skill for jobs related to linguistics of asl & other sign languages, at 4.1 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are English Language, Education and Training and Foreign Language. The most important abilities are Speech Clarity, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a linguistics of asl & other sign languages degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to linguistics of asl & other sign languages, at 45.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 28.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Linguistics of ASL & Other Sign Languages, 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, Instructor, Adjunct Instructor and Lecturer.
The occupation related to linguistics of asl & other sign languages 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% |
Linguistics of ASL & Other Sign Languages 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 linguistics of asl & other sign languages 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 |
Linguistics of ASL & Other Sign Languages has 3 similar majors in the Foreign Languages & Linguistics field, which together award 2,465 degrees a year; the largest are Sign Language Interpretation and Translation (1,403), American Sign Language (ASL) (1,057) and American Sign Language, Other (5). Browse all Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sign Language Interpretation and Translation | 1,403 |
| American Sign Language (ASL) | 1,057 |
| American Sign Language, Other | 5 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.