Most American Sign Language programs take two years to complete. Graduates start earning $32,997 right after finishing, climbing to $45,044 four years out.
This page covers American Sign Language as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Languages and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
American Sign Language is a focused area of study within Languages. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $45,044 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 216 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 2,341 students complete it each year, most walking away with a associate's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$32,997
Median Earnings · 4yr
$45,044
Colleges Offering
216
Graduates / Year
2,341
Avg Net Price / yr
$13,728
How Much Do American Sign Language Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing American Sign Language, a typical graduate earns $45,044, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $30,539 and $59,549, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $32,997 at one year out to $45,044 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.
$45,044
4-Year National Median
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$45,474
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every American Sign Language graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.
$30,53925th pct.
$45,044Median
$59,54975th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $45,044 and an estimated $54,912 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.7 years.
Based on outcomes from 59 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 2,341 students who complete American Sign Language programs each year, the majority (48%) earn a associate's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
48%28%
Associate's48%
Bachelor's28%
Certificate16%
What Can You Do With an American Sign Language Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. American Sign Language graduates show up in 3 different occupations, and Foreign Language and Literature Teachers pay the most at $79,350/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Teach languages and literature courses in languages other than English. Includes teachers of American Sign Language (ASL). Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
Top Colleges for American Sign Language
Not sure where to study American Sign Language? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by American Sign Language graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Languages Programs
American Sign Language is not the only path through Languages: 10 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an American Sign Language program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
American Sign Language carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 3 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $32,997 at graduation to $45,044 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 71,100 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Flexible credential pathsPrograms are available from certificate and associate levels through bachelor's and graduate degrees, giving students real options based on timeline and goals.
CONS
Modest median earningsFour-year median of $45,044 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Declining roles in some areas1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($30,539) and 75th ($59,549) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
American Sign Language Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do American Sign Language graduates earn?
$45,044 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $30,539 and $59,549, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for an American Sign Language degree?
$32,997 in the first year out. That grows to $45,044 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with an American Sign Language degree?
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $79,350 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does an American Sign Language program take?
Two years full-time at a community college for an American Sign Language associate degree. Many students use it as a stepping stone, transferring to a four-year school afterward to finish a bachelor's.
How many colleges offer American Sign Language?
216 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is an American Sign Language degree worth it?
$45,044 median earnings four years out against $13,728 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between American Sign Language and Languages?
American Sign Language is the narrower of the two: Languages covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to American Sign Language-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in American Sign Language graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring American Sign Language graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for American Sign Language graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +0.7% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Interpreters and Translators are among the strongest-growth roles at +2.0%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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