by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 208 U.S. colleges awarded 918 degrees and certificates in German Language & Literature. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 73% of graduates. College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best German Language & Literature Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $46,924 one year after completing, rising to $64,472 after four years.
Studying German Language & Literature involves the study of German Language And Literature. A Program That Focuses On The German Language And Related Dialects. Includes Instruction In Philology; Dialects; 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, german language & literature is a popular field of study, with 918 degrees awarded annually. 208 colleges award german language & literature degrees, an average of 4 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 45.
By level, the 918 awards include 5 certificates, 20 associate degrees, 672 bachelor’s degrees, 168 master’s degrees and 42 doctorates.
Women earned 52% of german language & literature degrees and certificates in the latest year (476 of 918). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (653) and Hispanic or Latino (52), and international students earned 70.
College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best German Language & Literature Schools ranking, including 6 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks german language & literature schools within 6 states. In all, 208 colleges offer german language & literature programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value German Language & Literature Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common german language & literature credential is the bachelor’s degree: 672 of the 918 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to german 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 german language & literature degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 5 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 20 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 672 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 168 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 42 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to german 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 German 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 Spanish Teacher, French Teacher, ESL Instructor (English as a Second Language Instructor) and Bilingual Teacher.
The occupation related to german 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% |
German Language & Literature graduates earn a median $46,924 one year after completing their program, $64,472 after four years and $62,456 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $46,924 |
| 4 years | $64,472 |
| 5 years | $62,456 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to german 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 |
German Language & Literature has 6 similar majors in the Foreign Languages & Linguistics field, which together award 185 degrees a year; the largest are Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (145), Scandinavian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (16) and Norwegian Language and Literature (14). Browse all Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors or the full list of college majors.
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