by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 10 U.S. colleges awarded 530 degrees and certificates in English as a Second Language. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 58% of graduates.
Studying English as a Second Language explores A Program That Focuses On The Development Of Proficiency In Reading, Writing, And Speaking English For Those For Whom English Is Not Their Mother Tongue. Includes Instruction In The Use Of Basic Communication Skills To Develop And Transmit Ideas And Thoughts In English As Well As Specialized Programs That Focus On The Development Of Proficiency In English Sufficient To Meet Specific Occupational Or Academic Demands. Note: These Programs Are For Academic Credit Towards A Postsecondary Credential. For Second Language Programs That Are Not For Academic Credit Towards A Postsecondary Credential, See 32.0109.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, english as a second language draws strong interest, with 530 degrees awarded annually. 10 colleges award english as a second language degrees, an average of 53 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 249.
By level, the 530 awards include 220 certificates and 310 master’s degrees.
Women earned 66% of english as a second language degrees and certificates in the latest year (347 of 530). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (140) and White (39), and international students earned 227.
How long an english as a second language degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 220 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 310 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.