by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are many different cultures and religions associated with Southern Asia. This rich culture and diversity lends itself to several different languages and dialects spoken throughout the region. There are many different countries encompassed in what we would consider South Asia and because of this there are many different concentrations within this major. They include Hindi, Sanskrit and Classical Indian Languages, Bengali, Punjabi, Tamil, and Urdu Language and Literature.
In any one of these concentrations you will take Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Language Courses, Asian Literature, Religions of India, Buddhism in contemporary society, Art of Southeast Asian, and Classical Asian civilization.
Studying South Asian Languages covers South Asian Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics. Read on to learn the important information every south asian languages student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering south asian languages programs.
Across the country, south asian languages is a widely-pursued major, with 25 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best South Asian Languages Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for south asian languages students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of south asian languages programs later in this article.
Coursework for South Asian Languages build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations south asian languages graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a south asian languages program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a south asian languages major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several south asian languages 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 | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 16 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
People currently working in careers related to south asian languages tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 26.8% |
| Master’s degree | 21.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in south asian languages careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying south asian languages prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to south asian languages.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to south asian languages.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 629,317 | 7.3% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
Salaries for south asian languages graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers south asian languages grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
With 2 different south asian languages programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased south asian languages school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in south asian languages, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| South Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other | 19 |
| South Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
