by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying French Language & Literature covers French Language And Literature. A Program That Focuses On The French Language And Related Dialects And Creoles. Includes Instruction In Philology; Metropolitan French; Canadian French; African And Caribbean Creoles; Dialects; And Applications In Business, Science/technology, And Other Settings. Continue reading for the essential details every french language & literature student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering french language & literature programs.
Across the country, french language & literature is a popular field of study, with 2,001 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best French Language & Literature Schools ranking analyzes these 373 schools to determine the best overall colleges for french language & literature students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of french language & literature programs later in this article.
Programs in French Language & Literature build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations french language & literature graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a french language & literature program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a french language & literature major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several french language & literature 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 | 12 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 86 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,458 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 364 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 63 |
People currently working in careers related to french language & literature 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 french language & literature careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying french language & literature opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to french language & literature.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to french language & literature.
| 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% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of french language & literature graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,134 |
| 4 years | $47,838 |
| 5 years | $56,094 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for french language & literature graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers french language & literature 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 373 different french language & literature programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased french language & literature school rankings to help you.
Students interested in french language & literature, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
