The List of All U.S. Colleges With a Modern Languages Major

If you are interested in learning another language and increasing your understanding of a foreign culture, a modern language major could be the track to a fulfilling college experience and an array of interesting career paths. Keep reading to learn the reasons for studying modern languages, gain insight on what it takes to get into a top program, and see a comprehensive list of all the U.S. colleges with a modern languages major.

 

Why Major in Modern Languages in College?

 

The simplest reason for studying modern languages in college is that you’re interested in learning more about the world in which you inhabit. Languages considered for a degree in modern language are French, Spanish, German, English, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, and Japanese. More than learning how to speak and write a language, modern language majors gain an understanding of language as a system and its function within a social context while also learning about the culture, media, and politics of the regions that speak it.  

 

The ability to effectively communicate with people with a different language and cultural context is becoming an increasingly valuable skill in a more globalized world. Graduates with a degree in modern languages are natural fits for positions as interpreters and translators, consultants and relations specialists for international businesses and tech developers, and in education.

 

The median annual income for interpreters and translators in 2018 was $49,930 according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), which is slightly higher than the average national salary. The BLS also projects an abundance of opportunities in the future for interpreters, as they anticipate 18% growth in the field—more than twice as fast as the national average. Another good reason to study a foreign language? A Wharton and LECG Europe study found that studying a second language is correlated with about 2% more in annual income.

 

In addition to being equipped for a language-related job, students studying modern languages also graduate with a host of skills that easily transfer across industries. Modern language majors are adept at communicating, adaptable to different situations and people, and multi-taskers. Learning a new language also makes students more aware of the use of their native language—making them better writers, speakers, and conversationalists.

 

The ability to speak a second language makes a student more employable by helping them stand out from a field of applicants—this is especially true in globalized industries. Only about 10% of the U.S. population is multilingual—for comparison, in Europe, 52.7% of the population is multilingual—meaning when applying for a job there is a strong chance you’ll be the only multilingual candidate. In fact, a study by The New American Economy shows that between 2010 and 2015, the demand for bilingual workers more than doubled—going from 240,000 jobs to 630,000.

 

How Can You Boost Your Odds of Getting Accepted Into a Modern Language Program?

 

No different than students hoping to study engineering, chemistry, or history, students seeking admission into top schools to pursue modern languages will need a robust college profile. One of the best ways to attract the attention of admissions officers is to maintain a strong GPA, high class rank, and show a willingness to challenge yourself academically by taking advanced courses, particularly in language and the humanities.

 

Another fantastic way to stand out amongst a crowded field of applicants is through your extracurricular activities. Participation in your high school’s foreign language club, volunteering in a community where English is a second language, and tutoring are all tremendous ways to demonstrate an interest in a foreign language outside of the classroom. But don’t forget to highlight any interests outside of language as well! Sports, music, art, and volunteering are just a few of the activities that help admissions officials get a more comprehensive understanding of a student apart from their GPA and standardized test scores.

 

Our Early Advising Program is a great way for 9th and 10th graders to get a head start on the college applications process. Paired with successful students at top-30 schools, high schoolers are advised on everything from choosing classes to what extracurricular activities to participate in—learning from students who just successfully navigated the application process and were admitted to a top school.

 

Our College Strategy Program is designed for students further along in the college application process, helping high school juniors create college lists, solidify their college profile, and maximize this critical time in the admissions process. Most importantly, this program assists students in gaining admission into their first-choice schools—73% of participants enrolled in our College Strategy Program are accepted to top-20 schools.

Which Colleges Offer a Modern Languages Major?

 

If you’re preparing to build your college list and are thinking about pursuing a modern language major, you’re in luck—we’ve taken the first step for you. Below is a list of all the colleges and universities in the U.S. that offer a modern language major.

 

Abilene Christian University | ACU

Adams State University

Adrian College

Agnes Scott College

Albertus Magnus College

Allegheny College

American University

Amherst College

Anderson University (Indiana)

Anderson University (South Carolina)

Andrews University

Appalachian State University

Aquinas College (Michigan)

Arcadia University

Arkansas State University | A–State

Arkansas Tech University | ATU

Asbury University

Ashland University

Assumption College

Auburn University

Auburn University at Montgomery | AUM

Augsburg University

Augustana College

Augustana University

Augusta University

Austin College

Austin Peay State University | APSU

Averett University

Azusa Pacific University | APU

Baldwin Wallace University | BW

Ball State University | BSU

Bard College

Barnard College

Barry University

Barton College

Baruch College | CUNY Baruch

Bellarmine University

Belmont University

Beloit College

Bemidji State University | BSU

Benedictine College

Benedictine University

Bentley University

Berry College

Bethany College (West Virginia)

Bethel University (Minnesota)

Bismarck State College | BSC

Blackburn College

Bloomsburg University | BloomU

Blue Mountain College | BMC

Bluffton University

Boise State University | BSU

Boston College | BC

Boston University | BU

Bowdoin College

Bowling Green State University | BGSU

Bradley University

Brandeis University

Briar Cliff University

Bridgewater State University

Brigham Young University | BYU

Brooklyn College

Brown University

Bryant University

Bucknell University

Butler University

Cabrini University

Caldwell University

California Baptist University | CBU

California Lutheran University | CLU

California Polytechnic State University | Cal Poly

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Cal Poly Pomona

California State University, Bakersfield | CSU Bakersfield

California State University, Chico | CSU Chico

California State University, Dominguez Hills | CSUDH

California State University, East Bay | CSU East Bay

California State University, Fresno | CSU Fresno

California State University, Fullerton | CSU Fullerton

California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach State

California State University, Los Angeles | Cal State LA

California State University, Monterey Bay | CSUMB

California State University, Northridge | CSUN

California State University, Sacramento | Sacramento State

California State University, Stanislaus | Stanislaus State

California State University Channel Islands | CSU Channel Islands

California State University San Marcos | CSUSM

Calvin College

Canisius College

Capital University

Cardinal Stritch University

Carleton College

Carnegie Mellon University | CMU

Carroll College

Carroll University

Carson–Newman University

Carthage College

Case Western Reserve University

Castleton University

Catawba College

Catholic University of America | CUA

Cedar Crest College

Cedarville University

Central Michigan University | CMU

Central Washington University | CWU

Centre College

Chapman University

Charleston Southern University | CSU

Chicago State University | CSU

Christopher Newport University | CNU

City College of New York | CCNY

Claflin University

Claremont McKenna College | CMC

Clark Atlanta University | CAU

Clarke University

Clayton State University

Clemson University

Cleveland State University | CSU

Coastal Carolina University | Coastal

Coe College

Coker College

Colby College

Colgate University

College of Charleston

College of Coastal Georgia | CCGA

College of Mount Saint Vincent | CMSV

College of New Rochelle | CNR

College of Southern Nevada | CSN

College of St. Benedict | CSB

College of Staten Island | CUNY CSI

College of the Holy Cross | Holy Cross

College of the Ozarks

College of William & Mary | William & Mary

College of Wooster

Colorado College

Colorado State University–Pueblo | CSU Pueblo

Columbia University

Concordia College (Minnesota)

Concordia University Chicago

Concordia University Irvine

Concordia University Nebraska

Concordia University Wisconsin | CUW

Connecticut College

Converse College

Cornell College

Cornell University

Cornerstone University

Creighton University

D’Youville College

Daemen College

Dallas Baptist University | DBU

Dartmouth College

Davidson College

Denison University

DePaul University

DePauw University

DeSales University

Dickinson College

Dickinson State University | DSU

Dixie State University | DSU

Dominican College

Dominican University (Illinois)

Dordt College

Drury University

Duke University

Duquesne University

Earlham College

East Carolina University | ECU

Eastern Illinois University | EIU

Eastern Kentucky University | EKU

Eastern Mennonite University | EMU

Eastern Michigan University | EMU

Eastern New Mexico University | ENMU

Eastern University

Eastern Washington University | EWU

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | ESU

East Tennessee State University | ETSU

Eckerd College

Edgewood College

Elizabethtown College | E-town

Emmanuel College (Massachusetts)

Emporia State University

Endicott College

Evangel University

Evergreen State College

Fairfield University

Fayetteville State University | FSU

Ferris State University

Fisk University

Flagler College

Florida Atlantic University | FAU

Florida International University | FIU

Florida State College at Jacksonville | FSCJ

Florida State University | FSU

Fordham University

Fort Hays State University | FHSU

Framingham State University

Franciscan University of Steubenville

Francis Marion University

Freed–Hardeman University | FHU

Frostburg State University

Furman University

Gallaudet University

Gardner–Webb University

George Fox University | GFU

George Mason University

Georgetown University

Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Tech

Georgia Southern University

Gettysburg College

Gonzaga University

Gordon State College

Goshen College

Goucher College

Grace College & Seminary

Grand Canyon University | GCU

Grand Valley State University | GVSU

Grinnell College

Gulf Coast State College | GCSC

Gustavus Adolphus College

Hamilton College

Hampden–Sydney College | H–SC

Hampton University

Hanover College

Hardin–Simmons University | HSU

Harvard University

Hastings College

Haverford College

Heidelberg University (Ohio)

Henderson State University | HSU

Hendrix College

High Point University

Hillsdale College

Hobart and William Smith Colleges | HWS

Hofstra University

Hollins University

Hood College

Hope College

Howard University

Humboldt State University | HSU

Hunter College | CUNY Hunter

Illinois State University | ISU

Illinois Wesleyan University

Immaculata University

Indiana State University | ISU

Indiana University Bloomington | Indiana

Indiana University Northwest | IU Northwest

Indiana University of Pennsylvania | IUP

Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis | IUPUI

Indiana University South Bend | IU South Bend

Indiana University Southeast | IU Southeast

Indiana Wesleyan University | IWU

Iona College

Ithaca College

Jacksonville State University | JSU

Jacksonville University

James Madison University | JMU

John Brown University | JBU

Johns Hopkins University | JHU

Juniata College

Kalamazoo College

Kean University

Kennesaw State University | KSU

Kent State University

Kentucky State University | KSU

Kenyon College

King’s College

Knox College

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | KU

Lafayette College

Lake Forest College

Lakeland University

Lander University

La Sierra University | LSU

Lawrence University

Lehigh University

Lehman College | CUNY Lehman

Le Moyne College

Lenoir–Rhyne University

Lewis & Clark College

Lewis University

Lincoln University (Missouri)

Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)

Lindenwood University

Lipscomb University

Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania | LHU

Louisiana College

Loyola Marymount University | LMU

Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Maryland

Loyola University New Orleans

Lubbock Christian University | LCU

Luther College

Madonna University

Manchester University

Manhattan College

Manhattanville College

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Marian University

Marietta College

Marist College

Marquette University

Marshall University

Mars Hill University

Marywood University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MIT

McKendree University | McK

McMurry University

McPherson College

Mercy College

Mercyhurst University

Merrimack College

Messiah College

Metropolitan State University of Denver | MSU Denver

Miami University

Michigan State University

Middlebury College

Middle Georgia State University

Middle Tennessee State University | MTSU

Midland College | MC

Midwestern State University

Millersville University of Pennsylvania | MU

Milligan College

Millsaps College

Minnesota State University Moorhead | MSUM

Minot State University | MSU

Mississippi College

Mississippi State University | MSU

Missouri Southern State University

Missouri State University | MSU

Missouri Western State University

Molloy College

Montana State University | MSU

Montclair State University | MSU

Morehouse College

Morningside College

Mount Aloysius College

Mount Holyoke College

Mount Mary University

Mount Saint Mary College

Mount St. Mary’s University

Muhlenberg College

Murray State University | MSU

Muskingum University

Nazareth College

Nebraska Wesleyan University | NWU

New College of Florida

New England College | NEC

New Jersey Institute of Technology | NJIT

New School

North Carolina A&T State University | N.C. A&T

North Carolina Central University | NCCU

North Carolina State University | NC State

North Dakota State University | NDSU

Northeastern Illinois University | NEIU

Northeastern State University | NSU

Northeastern University

Northern Arizona University | NAU

Northern Illinois University | NIU

Northern Michigan University | NMU

Northwestern University

Northwest Missouri State University

Notre Dame of Maryland University | NDMU

Oakland University

Oakwood University

Oberlin College

Ohio University

Ohio Wesleyan University

Oklahoma Baptist University | OBU

Oklahoma Christian University | OC

Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City | OSU–OKC

Old Dominion University | ODU

Olivet Nazarene University | ONU

Otterbein University

Our Lady of the Lake University | OLLU

Pace University

Pacific Lutheran University | PLU

Pacific University

Park University

Peninsula College

Pennsylvania State University | PSU

Pepperdine University

Piedmont College

Pittsburg State University | PSU

Plymouth State University | PSU

Point Loma Nazarene University | PLNU

Pomona College

Portland State University | PSU

Presbyterian College

Principia College

Providence College

Purdue University Fort Wayne | PFW

Purdue University Northwest | PNW

Queens College, City University of New York | CUNY QC

Queens University of Charlotte

Quincy University

Radford University

Reed College

Regis University

Reinhardt University

Rhode Island College | RIC

Rhodes College

Rider University

Ripon College

Rochester Institute of Technology | RIT

Rollins College

Rowan University

Rutgers University–Camden

Rutgers University–Newark

Rutgers University–New Brunswick | Rutgers

Saginaw Valley State University | SVSU

Saint Francis University | SFU

Saint Joseph’s University | SJU

Saint Mary’s College (Indiana)

Saint Mary’s College of California | St. Mary’s

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota | SMU

Saint Peter’s University

Salem State University

Salve Regina University

Samford University

Sam Houston State University | SHSU

San Diego State University | SDSU

San Jose State University | SJSU

Santa Clara University

Sarah Lawrence College

Scripps College

Seattle Pacific University | SPU

Seattle University

Seton Hall University

Seton Hill University

Sewanee: The University of the South | Sewanee

Shenandoah University

Siena Heights University | SHU

Simmons College

Skidmore College

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | SRU

Smith College

South Carolina State University | SCSU

South Dakota State University

Southeastern Louisiana University

Southeastern Oklahoma State University | SOSU

Southeast Missouri State University | SEMO

Southern Adventist University

Southern Arkansas University | SAU

Southern Connecticut State University | SCSU

Southern Illinois University Carbondale | SIU

Southern Methodist University | SMU

Southern Oregon University | SOU

Southern Utah University | SUU

South Georgia State College

Southwest Baptist University | SBU

Southwestern Adventist University

Southwestern Christian College | SwCC

Southwestern Oklahoma State University | SWOSU

Southwestern University

Spelman College

Spring Arbor University | SAU

St. Ambrose University

St. Anselm College

St. Augustine College

St. Bonaventure University

St. Catherine University

St. Cloud State University | SCSU

St. Edward’s University

St. Francis College | SFC

St. John’s College | SJC (New Mexico)

St. John Fisher College

St. Joseph’s College (New York) | SJC

St. Joseph’s University | SJU

St. Lawrence University

St. Mary’s University, Texas

St. Michael’s College

St. Olaf College

St. Thomas Aquinas College | STAC

Stanford University

State University of New York at Cortland | SUNY Cortland

State University of New York at Fredonia | SUNY Fredonia

State University of New York at New Paltz | SUNY New Paltz

State University of New York at Old Westbury | SUNY Old Westbury

State University of New York at Oneonta | SUNY Oneonta

State University of New York at Oswego | SUNY Oswego

State University of New York at Plattsburgh | SUNY Plattsburgh

State University of New York at Potsdam | SUNY Potsdam

Stephen F. Austin State University | SFA

Stetson University

Stockton University

Stonehill College

Suffolk University

Sul Ross State University | SRSU

Swarthmore College

Syracuse University

Taylor University

Temple University

Tennessee Technological University | Tennessee Tech

Texas A&M International University | TAMIU

Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi

Texas A&M University–Kingsville

Texas Lutheran University | TLU

Texas Southern University | TSU

Texas State University

Texas Tech University | TTU

Texas Wesleyan University

The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina | The Citadel

The College at Brockport, State University of New York | SUNY Brockport

The College of New Jersey | TCNJ

The Ohio State University | OSU

The State University of New York at Albany | SUNY Albany

The State University of New York at Binghamton | SUNY Binghamton

The State University of New York at Buffalo | SUNY Buffalo

The State University of New York at Geneseo | SUNY Geneseo

The State University of New York at Stony Brook | SUNY Stony Brook

Transylvania University

Trinity College

Trinity University

Troy University (Alabama)

Truman State University | TSU

Tufts University

Tulane University

Union College (Nebraska)

Union College (New York)

Union University

United States Military Academy | Army

United States Naval Academy | Navy

University of Akron

University of Alabama

University of Alaska Anchorage | UAA

University of Alaska Fairbanks | UAF

University of Alaska Southeast

University of Arizona

University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas at Monticello | UAM

University of Arkansas–Fort Smith | UAFS

University of California, Berkeley | UC Berkeley

University of California, Davis | UC Davis

University of California, Irvine | UC Irvine

University of California, Los Angeles | UCLA

University of California, Merced | UC Merced

University of California, Riverside | UC Riverside

University of California, San Diego | UCSD

University of California, Santa Barbara | UCSB

University of California, Santa Cruz | UCSC

University of Central Arkansas | UCA

University of Central Florida | UCF

University of Central Missouri | UCM

University of Chicago

University of Cincinnati

University of Colorado Boulder | CU Boulder

University of Colorado Denver | CU Denver

University of Dallas

University of Denver

University of Evansville

University of Hawaii at Hilo | UH Hilo

University of Hawaii at Manoa | UH Manoa

University of Houston–Downtown | UHD

University of Houston–Victoria | UHV

University of Illinois at Chicago | UIC

University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | UIUC

University of Jamestown

University of Kansas

University of Louisiana at Lafayette | UL Lafayette

University of Louisiana at Monroe | ULM

University of Louisville

University of Maine

University of Maine at Farmington | UMF

University of Mary | UMary

University of Mary Hardin–Baylor | UMHB

University of Maryland, Baltimore County | UMBC

University of Maryland, College Park | Maryland

University of Mary Washington | UMW

University of Massachusetts Amherst | UMass Amherst

University of Massachusetts Boston | UMass Boston

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | UMass Dartmouth

University of Memphis

University of Michigan

University of Michigan–Dearborn | UM-D

University of Michigan–Flint | UofM-Flint

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | Minnesota

University of Mississippi | Ole Miss

University of Missouri | Mizzou

University of Missouri–St. Louis | UMSL

University of Montana

University of Mount Union

University of Nebraska at Kearney | UNK

University of Nebraska–Lincoln | UNL

University of Nevada, Las Vegas | UNLV

University of New Hampshire | UNH

University of New Mexico | UNM

University of North Alabama | UNA

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | UNC

University of North Carolina at Charlotte | UNC Charlotte

University of North Carolina at Greensboro | UNC Greensboro

University of North Carolina at Pembroke | UNC Pembroke

University of North Carolina at Wilmington | UNC Wilmington

University of North Dakota | UND

University of Northern Iowa | UNI

University of North Florida | UNF

University of North Georgia | UNG

University of Northwestern – St. Paul

University of Notre Dame

University of Pennsylvania | UPenn

University of Pittsburgh | Pitt

University of Puget Sound

University of Redlands

University of Richmond

University of Rio Grande

University of Rochester

University of San Diego | USD

University of San Francisco | USF

University of Scranton

University of Sioux Falls | USF

University of South Alabama | South

University of South Carolina | USC

University of South Carolina Upstate | USC Upstate

University of South Dakota | USD

University of Southern California | USC

University of Southern Indiana | USI

University of Southern Maine | USM

University of Southern Mississippi | Southern Miss

University of South Florida | USF

University of South Florida St. Petersburg | USFSP

University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)

University of St. Thomas (Texas)

University of Tennessee

University of Texas at Arlington | UT Arlington

University of Texas at Austin | UT Austin

University of Texas at El Paso | UTEP

University of Texas at San Antonio | UTSA

University of Texas at Tyler | UT Tyler

University of Texas of the Permian Basin | UT Permian Basin

University of the Ozarks

University of Tulsa

University of Vermont | UVM

University of Virginia | UVA

University of Washington

University of West Georgia | UWG

University of Wisconsin–La Crosse | UW–La Crosse

University of Wisconsin-Madison | Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee | UWM

University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh | UW Oshkosh

University of Wisconsin–Platteville | UW–Platteville

University of Wisconsin–River Falls | UW–River Falls

University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point | UW–Stevens Point

University of Wisconsin–Whitewater | UW–Whitewater

Ursinus College

Utah State University

Utah Valley University | UVU

Utica College

Vanderbilt University

Vassar College

Villanova University

Virginia Commonwealth University | VCU

Virginia Military Institute | VMI

Virginia Tech

Viterbo University

Wabash College

Wagner College

Wake Forest University

Walla Walla University

Washington and Jefferson College | W&J

Washington and Lee University

Washington College

Washington State University | WSU

Washington University in St. Louis | WashU

Wayne State College

Weber State University

Webster University

Welch College

Wellesley College

Wesleyan University

West Chester University | WCUPA

Western Carolina University | WCU

Western Connecticut State University | WCSU

Western Kentucky University | WKU

Western Michigan University | WMU

Western Oregon University | WOU

Western Washington University | WWU

Westfield State University

Westminster College (Missouri)

Westmont College

West Texas A&M University | WTAMU

West Virginia University | WVU

Wheaton College (Illinois)

Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Whitman College

Wichita State University | WSU

Widener University

Wiley College

Wilkes University

Willamette University

William Carey University | WCU

William Paterson University | WPUNJ

Williams College

Wilmington College

Wilson College

Wingate University

Winona State University | WSU

Winston-Salem State University | WSSU

Winthrop University | WU

Wisconsin Lutheran College | WLC

Wofford College

Worcester State University

Xavier University

Xavier University of Louisiana

Yale University

Yeshiva University

York College, City University of New York | CUNY York

York College of Pennsylvania

Youngstown State University

 

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