by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you have ever dreamed about working with and teaching non-English speakers, then bilingual and multilingual education is for you. You get to give students the skills necessary to succeed in school by teaching basic academics in their native language and helping them adjust to English. Your goal is to help produce bilingual or multilingual individuals.
The types of classes you will take will vary depending on what school you attend, but you most likely take courses such as composition, foreign language, linguistics, and education courses. You could also take language learning and acquisitions and literacy development.
The concentrations within this major include Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education and Indian/Native American Education.
A major in Multilingual Education covers Bilingual, Multilingual, And Multicultural Education. Read on to learn the important information every multilingual education major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering multilingual education programs.
Nationwide, multilingual education is a popular field of study, with 1,634 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Multilingual Education Schools ranking analyzes these 126 schools to determine the best overall colleges for multilingual education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of multilingual education programs later in this article.
Studies in Multilingual Education emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations multilingual education graduates commonly enter.
In this field, it helps to have a knack for foreign languages. You will be working with students that could come from anywhere in the world and it will be your job to help them acclimate in school. In this field, it is necessary to be aware of other cultures and backgrounds and to be very accepting of others. You should have an open mind and be willing to work with anyone. You may also need to work with students of varying ages.
Patience is necessary while working with people who do not speak English as their native language. It is your job as the educator to motivate your students. This means you should be creative and energetic. If you are excited to teach, your students will be excited to learn.
You will be required to complete field experience hours and student teach in order to get certified.
The skill set emphasized by a multilingual education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a multilingual education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several multilingual education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 13 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 110 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,454 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 36 |
People currently working in careers related to multilingual education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 50.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.0% |
| Master’s degree | 10.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in multilingual education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
With a degree in multilingual education you can work as an elementary, middle school, or high school teacher. You can also work as a private tutor for both children and adults. Right now, the teaching field is very difficult to break into. However, any profession it is helpful to be fluent in a language other than English.
Studying multilingual education can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to multilingual education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to multilingual education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,457,958 | 2.6% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | 1,154,676 | 1.9% |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,058,186 | 6.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | 217,050 | 0.9% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 84,106 | 4.9% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of multilingual education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $61,405 |
| 4 years | $62,672 |
| 5 years | $69,660 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for multilingual education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers multilingual education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,352 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $83,682 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,366 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,776 |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | $62,634 |
With 126 different multilingual education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased multilingual education school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in multilingual education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Bilingual and Multilingual Education | 932 |
| Multicultural Education | 329 |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education, Other | 326 |
| Indian/Native American Education | 47 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
