by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Modern Language Education involves the study of Foreign Language Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Foreign Languages Programs At Various Educational Levels, Other Than French, German Or Spanish. Read on to learn the essential details every modern language education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering modern language education programs.
Nationwide, modern language education draws strong interest, with 312 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Modern Language Education Schools ranking analyzes these 54 schools to determine the best overall colleges for modern language education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of modern language education programs later in this article.
Studies in Modern Language Education emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations modern language education graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a modern language education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a modern language education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several modern language 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 70 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 238 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
People currently working in careers related to modern language education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 52.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.5% |
| Master’s degree | 8.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.7% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in modern language education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in modern language education prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to modern language education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to modern language education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 629,317 | 7.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of modern language education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,919 |
| 4 years | $50,204 |
| 5 years | $56,331 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for modern language education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers modern language education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
With 54 different modern language education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased modern language education school rankings to help you.
Students interested in modern language education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 6,964 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 5,986 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,544 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 3,018 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 2,993 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,352 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 1,963 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,860 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,472 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,051 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
