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CIP 16.0101 Foreign Languages and Linguistics

Foreign Languages and Literatures, General

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

中文

Total graduates

2,141

2025 · 190 schools

International share

4.9%

105 international students

Bachelor's degrees

1,722

1.9% international

Master's degrees

137

44.5% international

Overview

Foreign Languages and Literatures, General is an interdisciplinary academic program that focuses on the study of various languages and their corresponding literatures. This field encompasses a wide range of languages, including but not limited to Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, and Arabic. Students engage deeply with both the linguistic aspects of these languages and the cultural, historical, and literary contexts in which they are used.

The curriculum typically includes courses in language acquisition, advanced grammar, composition, and conversation, as well as literature courses that explore significant works from different cultures and time periods. Students also analyze literary themes, styles, and the socio-political contexts that shape these texts. This program aims to develop students’ proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking foreign languages while fostering a critical understanding of the cultures associated with those languages.

Moreover, studying foreign languages and literatures enhances students' analytical skills, cultural sensitivity, and global awareness. Graduates of this program are well-prepared for careers in various fields, including education, translation, international relations, tourism, and cultural exchange. They may also pursue advanced studies in specific languages or literature, linguistics, or related disciplines.

Overall, Foreign Languages and Literatures, General provides a comprehensive foundation for understanding the diverse world of languages and cultures, equipping students with the skills necessary for effective communication in an increasingly interconnected global society.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates grew 27% and the international share went from 7.5% to 4.9%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
49.2%
Asian
4.5%
Hispanic
26.9%
Black
6.6%
Other
7.8%
Intl.
4.9%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 190 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#8 Duke University North Carolina 1 0
#12 Columbia University in the City of New York New York 1 1
#27 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina 7 0
#29 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Georgia 44 1
#31 New York University New York 3 1
#34 University of Florida Florida 31 0
#44 Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Jersey 1 0
#52 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Virginia 67 0
#55 Purdue University-Main Campus Indiana 7 5
#59 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minnesota 2 0
#59 Texas A & M University-College Station Texas 4 1
#72 Syracuse University New York 1 0
#73 North Carolina State University at Raleigh North Carolina 44 3
#80 University of California-Riverside California 2 0
#80 Clemson University South Carolina 19 0
#85 University of Delaware Delaware 7 5
#95 University of Missouri-Columbia Missouri 36 9
#95 Rochester Institute of Technology New York 3 0
#100 Florida International University Florida 2 0
#100 University of South Florida-Main Campus Florida 50 4
#109 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Tennessee 28 0
#121 University of Denver Colorado 5 0
#121 University of South Carolina-Columbia South Carolina 18 1
#121 George Mason University Virginia 34 2
#137 University of Alabama at Birmingham Alabama 25 0
#137 University of Maryland-Baltimore County Maryland 25 0
#137 University of Houston Texas 6 0
#137 James Madison University Virginia 13 1
#148 University of Massachusetts-Lowell Massachusetts 3 0
#148 University of Rhode Island Rhode Island 18 0
#156 The University of Alabama Alabama 14 0
#156 Kansas State University Kansas 13 3
#156 Duquesne University Pennsylvania 1 0
#156 Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia 12 0
#169 Colorado State University-Fort Collins Colorado 11 2
#169 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Nebraska 6 5
#179 University of Utah Utah 10 5
#186 Wayne State University Michigan 18 0
#186 Texas Tech University Texas 26 8
#191 Florida Atlantic University Florida 27 4
#191 Georgia State University Georgia 16 6
#202 East Carolina University North Carolina 13 0
#208 University of Idaho Idaho 3 0
#208 Mississippi State University Mississippi 26 21
#208 University of North Carolina at Greensboro North Carolina 14 0
#219 University of Nevada-Reno Nevada 2 1
#227 University of North Dakota North Dakota 1 0
#227 West Chester University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 15 0
#227 University of Texas-San Antonio Texas 25 0
#236 Stetson University Florida 2 0
#236 University of Nevada--Las Vegas Nevada 3 0
#236 University of New Mexico-Main Campus New Mexico 2 0
#236 Pacific University Oregon 1 0
#236 Portland State University Oregon 1 0
#236 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 12 0
#236 University of Texas-Arlington Texas 4 0
#250 University of Missouri--Kansas City Missouri 11 0
#250 New Mexico State University-Main Campus New Mexico 33 1
#250 Pace University-New York New York 3 0
#262 University of Alabama--Huntsville Alabama 7 0
#262 DeSales University Pennsylvania 1 0
#276 Northern Arizona University Arizona 29 0
#276 University of Missouri--St. Louis Missouri 12 0
#288 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Illinois 14 0
#288 Wichita State University Kansas 6 0
#288 University of Memphis Tennessee 35 0
#288 University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee Wisconsin 3 0
#299 University of Nebraska--Omaha Nebraska 10 1
#299 Tennessee Technological University Tennessee 12 0
#308 University of Southern Mississippi Mississippi 8 0
#317 Marshall University West Virginia 5 0
#328 East Tennessee State University Tennessee 12 0
#328 Old Dominion University Virginia 9 0
#332 University of South Alabama Alabama 2 0
#342 University of Northern Colorado Colorado 2 0
#342 Missouri State University Missouri 14 0
#342 Kennesaw State University Georgia 22 0
#353 Jacksonville State University Alabama 2 0
#353 Arkansas State University Arkansas 2 0
#353 Southern Illinois University--Edwardsville Illinois 10 0
#353 University of Louisiana--Lafayette Louisiana 4 0
#353 University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Puerto Rico 59 0
#365 University of Central Arkansas Arkansas 9 0
#365 University of Louisiana--Monroe Louisiana 5 1
#365 Jackson State University Mississippi 1 0
#365 Gardner-Webb University North Carolina 2 0
#376 University of Arkansas--Little Rock Arkansas 9 0
#382 University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska 3 0
#382 Columbus State University Georgia 3 0
#382 Wright State University-Main Campus Ohio 1 0
#382 Lamar University Texas 1 0
LAC #3 Claremont McKenna College California 1 0
LAC #38 Occidental College California 3 0
LAC #38 Scripps College California 1 0
LAC #62 Virginia Military Institute Virginia 8 0
LAC #74 Principia College Illinois 1 1
LAC #85 Stonehill College Massachusetts 1 0
LAC #97 Lewis & Clark College Oregon 8 0
LAC #106 St. Mary's College of Maryland Maryland 5 0
LAC #119 Christopher Newport University Virginia 10 0
LAC #128 SUNY at Purchase College New York 1 0
LAC #128 University of Mary Washington Virginia 3 0
LAC #138 Truman State University Missouri 7 0
LAC #150 New College of Florida Florida 3 0
LAC #154 University of North Carolina Asheville North Carolina 4 0
— Mt San Antonio College California 36 1
— American River College California 26 0
— Fullerton College California 26 0
— Middle Tennessee State University Tennessee 20 0
— University of Tennessee--Chattanooga Tennessee 20 0
— Metropolitan State University of Denver Colorado 19 0
— Fort Hays State University Kansas 19 0
— Blinn College District Texas 19 0
— University of North Georgia Georgia 17 0
— Central New Mexico Community College New Mexico 14 0
— CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York 14 3
— Austin Peay State University Tennessee 14 0
— Golden West College California 13 0
— Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 13 0
— University of Alaska Anchorage Alaska 10 0
— Fresno City College California 10 0
— San Joaquin Delta College California 10 0
— Georgia College & State University Georgia 10 0
— University of Southern Indiana Indiana 10 0
— Long Beach City College California 9 0
— Coastal Carolina University South Carolina 9 0
— Winthrop University South Carolina 9 1
— College of Southern Nevada Nevada 8 0
— Stephen F. Austin State University Texas 8 0
— Suffolk County Community College New York 8 0
— Central Connecticut State University Connecticut 7 0
— Eastern Illinois University Illinois 7 0
— Louisiana Tech University Louisiana 7 0
— Towson University Maryland 7 0
— Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Mississippi 7 0

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 1,065,210 — $76,320
Interpreters and Translators 52,060 $31.90 $66,360
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary 19,830 — $89,990

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2002–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.