by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 113 U.S. colleges awarded 655 degrees and certificates in Chinese Language & Literature. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 65% of graduates. College Factual ranks 14 schools in its 2027 Best Chinese Language & Literature Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $27,756 one year after completing, rising to $51,776 after four years.
A degree in Chinese Language & Literature involves the study of Chinese Language And Literature. A Program That Focuses On The Languages Of China And Associated Dialects And Literature. Includes Instruction In Philology; Linguistics; Dialects And Pidgins; And Applications To Business, Science/technology, And Other Settings.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, chinese language & literature is a widely-pursued major, with 655 degrees awarded annually. 113 colleges award chinese language & literature degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 46.
By level, the 655 awards include 12 certificates, 59 associate degrees, 423 bachelor’s degrees, 148 master’s degrees and 11 doctorates.
Women earned 63% of chinese language & literature degrees and certificates in the latest year (410 of 655). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (273) and Asian (201), and international students earned 44.
College Factual ranks 14 schools in its 2027 Best Chinese Language & Literature Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees and 5 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks chinese language & literature schools within 6 states. In all, 113 colleges offer chinese language & literature programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Chinese Language & Literature Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common chinese language & literature credential is the bachelor’s degree: 423 of the 655 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to chinese language & literature 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 Speech Clarity, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a chinese language & literature degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 12 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 59 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 423 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 148 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 11 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to chinese language & literature, 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.
3 occupations are related to Chinese Language & Literature, with an average median salary of $56,790; the strongest outlook belongs to Interpreters and Translators, at 12.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Language Arts Teacher, Hebrew Teacher, French Teacher and Spanish Teacher.
The occupation related to chinese language & literature with the most projected jobs is Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, at 629,317.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
Chinese Language & Literature graduates earn a median $27,756 one year after completing their program, $51,776 after four years and $53,377 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,756 |
| 4 years | $51,776 |
| 5 years | $53,377 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to chinese language & literature 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 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
Chinese Language & Literature has 4 similar majors in the Foreign Languages & Linguistics field, which together award 1,472 degrees a year; the largest are Japanese Language and Literature (923), East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (337) and Korean Language and Literature (133). Browse all Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Japanese Language and Literature | 923 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 337 |
| Korean Language and Literature | 133 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other | 79 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
