by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 20 U.S. colleges awarded 72 degrees and certificates in Native American Languages. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 49% of graduates. Its 3 related occupations pay an average median salary of $56,790 a year.
Before Christopher Columbus and the colonization of the new land, the Native Americans were the first inhalants of the Americas. There were thousands of different tribes with their own languages, cultures and traditions. If you are interested in learning about America's past, majoring in Native American Languages is ideal.
While studying this major, you will focus on one or more of the native languages of the Western Hemisphere. The emphasis of this program will be placed on American Indian languages, in addition to other Native American languages. You will study oral and written literature of the Inuit and Aleut, Hawaiian and North American families. These languages include, but are not limited to, Athabascan, Siouan, Iroquoian, Algonkian, Yuman, Xapotecan, Mayan, and Uto-Aztecan. Some programs include languages in the South American families, which include Andean-Equatorial, Marcro-Chibchan, and Ge-Pano-Carib.
During the course of the program you will take courses in Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Language, Native American Philosophy, Gender and Sexuality in Native North American, Tribal Service Learning, and Tribal Governance and Leadership.
A degree in Native American Languages covers American Indian/native American Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, native american languages is a popular field of study, with 72 degrees awarded annually. 20 colleges award native american languages degrees, an average of 4 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 12.
By level, the 72 awards include 21 certificates, 14 associate degrees, 2 bachelor’s degrees and 35 master’s degrees.
Women earned 81% of native american languages degrees and certificates in the latest year (58 of 72). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are American Indian or Alaska Native (50) and White (10).
The most common native american languages credential is the master’s degree: 35 of the 72 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to native american 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.
An open mind and love for storytelling are good traits to have in order to fully appreciate and grasp Native American Language. The majoring of their culture and history was passed down by word of mouth in the practice of oral storytelling. Students with an ear for languages will do well in this major.
You can prepare for this major while still in High School. Students are advised to take courses in U.S History, Geography, Humanities, Political Science, and Language. These courses would help potential students learn the fundamentals of Native American Languages and culture.
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How long a native american languages degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 21 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 14 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 35 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to native american 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 Native American 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 Bilingual Teacher, Language Teacher, Language Arts Teacher and Language Instructor.
Majoring in Native American Studies provides graduates with a broad set of skills applicable in many different job fields. Some students choose to continue their education in order to become a University Professor. Another option is to become an Anthropologist or Archeologist. Both of these fields examine the past of different cultures. As an Anthropologist you will examine the elements of human culture and society. As an Archeologist, you would examine the relics from the past to recreate history and culture accurately. Grads may also be interested in becoming a Historian and spend their time researching, analyzing and explaining past events to people. Historians have the potential to get their research and work published in textbooks, newspapers, journals, and other publications.
The occupation related to native american 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% |
The highest-paying occupation related to native american 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 |
Native American Languages includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (72). It has 16 similar majors in the Foreign Languages & Linguistics field, which together award 29,099 degrees a year; the largest are Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (12,344), Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services (7,420) and American Sign Language (2,471). Browse all Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 72 |
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