2022 Linguistics Degree Guide
Linguistics Degrees Decreasing
In 2019-2020, linguistics was the 202nd most popular major nationwide with 3,129 degrees awarded. This represents a 1.1% reduction in linguistics degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 3,164.
Approximately 165 colleges in the U.S. offer a linguistics degree of some kind. Our 2022 Best Linguistics Schools ranking analyzes 115 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for linguistics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of linguistics programs later in this article.
Best Linguistics Schools by Degree
Linguistics Degree Requirements
When studying Linguistics, you’ll learn that talking to others to convey information effectively will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. 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 and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
Prior Education for a Linguistics Program
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 linguistics program qualifications, to serve in some linguistics careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Types of Linguistics Degrees
There are various different levels of linguistics degrees. You can get anything from a in linguistics to the highest linguistics degree, a . How long it takes to complete some common linguistics degree levels is shown below.
| 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 doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to linguistics, with approximately 36.7% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for linguistics workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 37.8% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 30.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 21.7% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 5.6% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 4.3% |
62.8% of linguistics workers have at least a master's. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in linguistics have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which linguistics career you choose.
Career Opportunities for A Degree In Linguistics Graduate
High Growth Projected for Linguistics Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your linguistics degree? Linguistics careers are expected to grow 15.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to linguistics.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Interpreters and Translators | 80,300 | 17.7% |
| Foreign Language and Literature Professors | 39,100 | 11.7% |
Linguistics Degree Salary Potential
As you might expect, salaries for linguistics graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
High Paying Careers for Linguistics Majors
Salaries for linguistics graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers linguistics grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Professors | $79,160 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $55,230 |
Getting Your Linguistics Degree
With over 413 different linguistics 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 linguistics school rankings to help you with this.
Majors Related to Linguistics
Linguistics is one of 5 different types of Linguistics & Comparative Literature programs to choose from.
Most Popular Majors Related to Linguistics
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Modern Languages | 3,075 |
| Comparative Literature | 1,093 |
| Language Translation | 874 |
| Other Linguistic, Comparative, & Related Language Studies & Services | 351 |
| Applied Linguistics | 163 |
View All Linguistics Related Majors >
References
-
Image Credit: By Pandit Rahul Sanskrutayan, Banshidhar Mohanty under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Foreign Language Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |
College Factual provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© College Factual – All Rights Reserved.
