by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics involves the study of American Indian/native American Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics. A Program That Focuses On One Or More Of The Languages Native To The Western Hemisphere, With An Emphasis On American Indian Languages, But Including Other Native American Languages. Includes Instruction In Philology; Oral And Written Literatures; Inuit And Aleut Languages; North American Language Families, Including, But Not Limited To, Algonkian, Athabascan, Siouan, Muskogean, Iroquoian, Kumeyaay, Yuman, Mayan, Zapotecan, And Uto-Aztecan; South American Language Families, Including, But Not Limited To, Andean-Equatorial, Ge-Pano-Carib, And Macro-Chibchan; And Other Minor Languages. Continue reading for the important information every american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics programs.
In the U.S., american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics is a widely-pursued major, with 58 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics Schools ranking analyzes these 13 schools to determine the best overall colleges for american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics programs later in this article.
Coursework for American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics 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 | 20 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 32 |
People currently working in careers related to american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 28.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics can lead to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 629,317 | 7.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
Salaries for american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
With 13 different american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased american indian/native american languages, literatures, & linguistics school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
