by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 46 U.S. colleges awarded 258 degrees and certificates in Arabic Language & Literature. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Arabic Language & Literature Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $48,355 one year after completing, rising to $75,147 after four years.
A degree in Arabic Language & Literature explores Arabic Language And Literature. A Program That Focuses On The Arabic Language. Includes Instruction In Philology; Classical Arabic; Modern Standard Arabic; 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, arabic language & literature is a popular field of study, with 258 degrees awarded annually. 46 colleges award arabic language & literature degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 45.
By level, the 258 awards include 6 certificates, 26 associate degrees, 151 bachelor’s degrees and 73 master’s degrees.
Women earned 60% of arabic language & literature degrees and certificates in the latest year (156 of 258). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (179) and Hispanic or Latino (15), and international students earned 12.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Arabic Language & Literature Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks arabic language & literature schools within 1 state. In all, 46 colleges offer arabic language & literature programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Arabic Language & Literature Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common arabic language & literature credential is the bachelor’s degree: 151 of the 258 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to arabic 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 an arabic language & literature degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 6 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 26 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 151 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 73 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to arabic 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 Arabic 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 arabic 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% |
Arabic Language & Literature graduates earn a median $48,355 one year after completing their program, $75,147 after four years and $73,123 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $48,355 |
| 4 years | $75,147 |
| 5 years | $73,123 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to arabic 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 |
Arabic Language & Literature has 4 similar majors in the Foreign Languages & Linguistics field, which together award 224 degrees a year; the largest are Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other (93), Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (66) and Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (43). Browse all Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
