HUMANITIES
+2.0%Liberal Arts
A broad foundation across writing, history, social science, and the arts, a flexible entry point into graduate school, business, or public service.
HUMANITIES
Languages
Salary data, career paths, top colleges, and every specialization, all sourced from College Scorecard, IPEDS, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About Languages
Wondering whether Languages is worth studying? What matters is what graduates actually earn, where they end up working, and which colleges produce the most of them. Most graduates end up in this field, so it is worth knowing what Foreign Language and Literature Teachers earn and how the role is projected to grow.
Spanish, French, Mandarin, linguistics, and more. Language fluency opens doors in international business, diplomacy, translation, and global nonprofit work. Four years after finishing the degree, graduates in this field earn a national median of $49,984, per College Scorecard. You can study it at 1,304 colleges and universities across the country, so location is rarely the limiting factor. About 29,738 students complete a degree in this area every year.
- Median Earnings · 1yr
- $32,036
- Median Earnings · 4yr
- $49,984
- Colleges Offering
- 1,304
- Graduates / Year
- 29,738
- Specializations
- 17
- Avg Net Price / yr
- $17,066
Is a Languages Degree Right for You?
$49,984
Median earnings · 4yr
+0.2%
10yr job growth
17
Specializations
Is the Investment Worth It?
Breaks even in
~3.4
yrs
vs $30K/yr baseline wage
Solid ROI. Median earnings of $49,984 after 4 years. Against an estimated $68,264 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.4 years.
ROI varies significantly by specialization and institution. A top program in a high-demand specialization can return many multiples of its cost. A lower-tier program in a saturated field may take a decade to break even. Use the Specializations and Best Colleges sections above to compare your specific options before deciding.
How Much Do Languages Majors Earn?
Pay for Languages graduates climbs fast in the first few years out. The median start is $32,036 one year after graduation, rising to $49,984 by year four, so the early salary is not the ceiling. Source: College Scorecard, across all 1,304 US institutions offering programs in this field.
$32,036
1 Year After Graduation
Median at the institutional level. Entry-level salaries; reflects career start, not peak earnings.
$49,984
4-Year National Median
Enrollment-weighted national median across all institutions. Most graduates have 2-3 years of career experience at this point.
$54,184
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size. Closer to what a typical school's graduates earn.
Earnings Range Across Specializations
Not all Languages specializations pay the same. The most lucrative programs pay $67,612/yr nationally, while the lowest-earning specializations average $45,044/yr. See the Specializations section below for a program-by-program breakdown.
$45,044
Lowest
$49,984
Median
$67,612
Highest
What Can You Do With a Languages Degree?
Career Paths for Languages Graduates
Studying Languages does not lock you into one job title. It opens 4 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from entry-level roles to senior ones, and Foreign Language and Literature Teachers pays the most among them at a median $79,350 a year. Each row below adds national wages, employment levels, and the 10-year growth outlook so you can weigh the rest.
Another common path leads to what English Language and Literature Teachers typically earn and how the field is trending.
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,350
↗ +0.2% growth
English Language and Literature Teachers
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,760
↗ +0.0% growth
Secondary School Teacher
Bachelor's degree
$72,040
↘ -0.2% growth
Interpreters and Translators
Bachelor's degree
$60,170
↗ +2.0% growth
Languages Specializations
Languages spans 11 specializations, and the choice among them will not swing your paycheck much: four-year earnings run from $45,044 to $67,612 across the whole group. Each row links to a full program profile with institution counts and annual completion data. Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying specialization is the cost and outcomes for a Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages program, which is worth a closer look before settling on the broader field.
Specialization
Colleges
Grads/yr
Earnings · 4yr
Best Colleges for Languages
These are the 20 colleges that graduate the most students in Languages, ranked by how many completed the degree in the most recent reporting year, not by selectivity or prestige. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate for each one come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.
By that measure, the list starts with the cost and admissions data for Columbia University in the City of New York.
1
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
4%
Net price/yr
$21,590
Earnings 10yr
$102,491
Grad rate
79%
2
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT · Nonprofit
Acceptance
67.8%
Net price/yr
$15,564
Earnings 10yr
$75,790
Grad rate
66%
3
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · Public
Acceptance
45.2%
Net price/yr
$17,354
Earnings 10yr
$73,792
Grad rate
75%
4
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
Acceptance
9%
Net price/yr
$12,548
Earnings 10yr
$82,511
Grad rate
82%
5
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public
Acceptance
11%
Net price/yr
$13,481
Earnings 10yr
$92,446
Grad rate
74%
6
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ · Public
Acceptance
86.1%
Net price/yr
$16,674
Earnings 10yr
$59,979
Grad rate
58%
7
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · Public
Acceptance
15.6%
Net price/yr
$13,138
Earnings 10yr
$83,648
Grad rate
90%
8
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, OH · Public
Acceptance
60.6%
Net price/yr
$17,339
Earnings 10yr
$60,409
Grad rate
66%
9
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · Public
Acceptance
33%
Net price/yr
$16,109
Earnings 10yr
$74,915
Grad rate
65%
10
Indiana University-Bloomington
Bloomington, IN · Public
Acceptance
78.2%
Net price/yr
$16,264
Earnings 10yr
$63,742
Grad rate
65%
11
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA · Public
Acceptance
39.2%
Net price/yr
$14,091
Earnings 10yr
$78,466
Grad rate
73%
12
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · Public
Acceptance
24.2%
Net price/yr
$6,541
Earnings 10yr
$71,588
Grad rate
83%
13
University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · Public
Acceptance
65.8%
Net price/yr
$17,890
Earnings 10yr
$68,396
Grad rate
69%
14
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA · Public
Acceptance
59.7%
Net price/yr
$22,383
Earnings 10yr
$71,631
Grad rate
69%
15
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR · Public
Acceptance
88.3%
Net price/yr
$22,182
Earnings 10yr
$61,324
Grad rate
66%
16
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · Public
Acceptance
41.8%
Net price/yr
$14,741
Earnings 10yr
$80,838
Grad rate
81%
17
University of Georgia
Athens, GA · Public
Acceptance
37.7%
Net price/yr
$13,936
Earnings 10yr
$68,726
Grad rate
76%
18
New York University
New York, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
9.2%
Net price/yr
$37,050
Earnings 10yr
$82,509
Grad rate
76%
19
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, HI · Public
Acceptance
86.6%
Net price/yr
$15,664
Earnings 10yr
$57,624
Grad rate
58%
20
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · Public
Acceptance
79.8%
Net price/yr
$16,778
Earnings 10yr
$69,020
Grad rate
75%
Ranked by number of Languages graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →
How Languages Compares to Similar Majors
Major
$30k
$40k
$50k
$60k
$70k
$80k
$90k
$100k
Plan Your Path
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Languages degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if a Languages degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Languages Degree: Pros & Cons
Weigh the financial trade-offs in Languages carefully before committing to it. The 2 strengths and 2 concerns below come from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts, so you can see exactly what is driving the caution.
PROS
- Wide availability Offered at 1,304 colleges nationwide, including community colleges and online programs.
- Strong salary growth Median salary grows from $32,036 at graduation to $49,984 four years later, indicating solid career momentum.
CONS
- Modest median earnings Four-year median of $49,984 lags behind many STEM and business fields, which can affect ROI at higher-cost programs.
- Declining roles in some areas 1 related career within this field show negative 10-year employment projections per BLS. Research specific roles carefully before committing.
Languages Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Languages graduates earn?
$49,984 a year four years after finishing the degree. That is the national median, so half of graduates earn more and half earn less, and specialization, institution, and region move the number a lot. Use the specializations table on this page to see which tracks pay above and below it. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Languages degree?
About $32,036 in the first year out, at the institutional level. That is an early number, not a ceiling, and it moves with employer, location, and which specialization within Languages you picked. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Languages degree?
More than one path, so the degree does not lock you into a single title. Foreign Language and Literature Teachers pays the most among related roles, at a median $79,350 a year nationally, but it is one option among several. See the Career Paths section on this page for the full list with employment levels and 10-year growth projections. Source: BLS.
How many colleges offer Languages?
1,304 colleges and universities in the United States, so location is rarely the limiting factor. Options run from community colleges offering associate degrees to research universities with doctoral programs, so the harder choice is which type of school fits, not whether one is nearby. The Best Colleges section on this page ranks the top institutions by graduation volume. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Languages degree worth it?
For most students, yes, though the margin depends on which specialization and school you pick. Median 4-year earnings run $49,984 against an average net price of roughly $17,066 a year across institutions that offer this major, and high-earning specializations widen that gap considerably. Compare your specific program before assuming the average applies to you.
How long does it take to earn a Languages degree?
Four years for a bachelor's degree in Languages at the normal full-time pace, or two years for an associate version at a community college. Part-time or online study stretches that timeline out, and transfer credits can shorten it.
What skills do employers look for in Languages graduates?
Employers hiring Languages graduates consistently prioritize writing, critical analysis, research, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information and communicate clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles.
What is the 10-year job outlook for Languages graduates?
Outlook is steady but slow: related occupations project an average of +0.5% growth over the next decade. Interpreters and Translators leads the group at +2.0%. Demand still swings by specialization, employer sector, and region, so treat this as a starting point rather than a guarantee. Source: BLS.
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Careers
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