by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 209 U.S. colleges awarded 2,280 degrees and certificates in Modern Languages. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 76% of graduates. College Factual ranks 64 schools in its 2027 Best Modern Languages Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $28,314 one year after completing, rising to $53,106 after four years.
Studying Modern Languages explores Foreign Languages And Literatures, General. A General Program That Focuses On One Or More Modern Foreign Languages That Is Not Specific As To The Name Of The Language(S) Studied; That Is Otherwise Undifferentiated; Or That Introduces Students To Language Studies At The Basic/elementary Level.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, modern languages is a widely-pursued major, with 2,280 degrees awarded annually. 209 colleges award modern languages degrees, an average of 11 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 68.
By level, the 2,280 awards include 3 certificates, 269 associate degrees, 1,722 bachelor’s degrees, 264 master’s degrees and 13 doctorates.
Women earned 71% of modern languages degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,609 of 2,280). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,120) and Hispanic or Latino (619), and international students earned 108.
College Factual ranks 64 schools in its 2027 Best Modern Languages Schools ranking, including 50 for bachelor’s degrees and 3 for master’s degrees. It also ranks modern languages schools within 21 states. In all, 209 colleges offer modern languages programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Modern Languages Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common modern languages credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,722 of the 2,280 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to modern languages 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 modern languages degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 269 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,722 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 264 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to modern 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.
3 occupations are related to Modern Languages, 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 Instructor, Language Teacher, Spanish Teacher and ESL Instructor (English as a Second Language Instructor).
The occupation related to modern languages 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% |
Modern Languages graduates earn a median $28,314 one year after completing their program, $53,106 after four years and $52,214 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,314 |
| 4 years | $53,106 |
| 5 years | $52,214 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to modern 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 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
Modern Languages has 5 similar majors in the Foreign Languages & Linguistics field, which together award 5,140 degrees a year; the largest are Linguistics (2,794), Comparative Literature (987) and Language Interpretation and Translation (876). Browse all Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Linguistics | 2,794 |
| Comparative Literature | 987 |
| Language Interpretation and Translation | 876 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other | 308 |
| Applied Linguistics | 175 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
