by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 115 U.S. colleges awarded 1,403 degrees and certificates in Sign Language Interpretation & Translation. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 34% of graduates. College Factual ranks 42 schools in its 2027 Best Sign Language Interpretation & Translation 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.
A degree in Sign Language Interpretation & Translation explores Sign Language Interpretation And Translation. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Function As Simultaneous Interpreters Of 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, sign language interpretation & translation draws strong interest, with 1,403 degrees awarded annually. 115 colleges award sign language interpretation & translation degrees, an average of 12 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 108.
By level, the 1,403 awards include 154 certificates, 477 associate degrees, 325 bachelor’s degrees, 440 master’s degrees and 3 doctorates.
Women earned 88% of sign language interpretation & translation degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,232 of 1,403). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (815) and Hispanic or Latino (289), and international students earned 11.
College Factual ranks 42 schools in its 2027 Best Sign Language Interpretation & Translation Schools ranking, including 17 for associate degrees, 10 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks sign language interpretation & translation schools within 10 states. In all, 115 colleges offer sign language interpretation & translation programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Sign Language Interpretation & Translation Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common sign language interpretation & translation credential is the associate degree: 477 of the 1,403 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to sign language interpretation & translation call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Foreign Language and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a sign language interpretation & translation degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 154 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 477 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 325 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 440 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to sign language interpretation & translation, at 54.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 54.7% |
| Master’s degree | 27.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Sign Language Interpretation & Translation, with an average median salary of $52,627; the strongest outlook belongs to Interpreters and Translators, at 12.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Russian Linguist, Diplomatic Interpreter, Linguist and Educational Interpreter.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to sign language interpretation & translation, at 424,722.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
Sign Language Interpretation & Translation 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to sign language interpretation & translation, with a median salary of $52,627.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
Sign Language Interpretation & Translation has 3 similar majors in the Foreign Languages & Linguistics field, which together award 1,068 degrees a year; the largest are American Sign Language (ASL) (1,057), Linguistics of ASL and Other Sign Languages (6) and American Sign Language, Other (5). Browse all Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| American Sign Language (ASL) | 1,057 |
| Linguistics of ASL and Other Sign Languages | 6 |
| American Sign Language, Other | 5 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
