by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, French language and literature was the 257th most popular major nationwide with 2,544 degrees awarded. This represents a 7.8% reduction in French language degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 2,743.
This year's Best French Language & Literature Schools ranking compares 165 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of French language programs later in this article.
Talking to others to convey information effectively is a required skill for French language majors. Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific French language careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different French language degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in French language and literature to something that takes less time like a . Different French language and literature degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to French language, with approximately 37.8% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to French language tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 41.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 23.0% |
| Doctoral Degree | 21.5% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 7.2% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 4.3% |
52.8% of French language workers have at least a master's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in French language and literature have received.
The education level required is different depending on the French language career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your French language degree? French Language & Literature careers are expected to grow 8.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to French language and literature.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 80,300 | 17.7% |
| Foreign Language and Literature Professors | 39,100 | 11.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for French language graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for French language and literature graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers French language grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Professors | $79,160 |
| High School Teachers | $64,340 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $55,230 |
With over 1,015 different French language degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased French language school rankings to help you with this.
One of 6 majors within the Romance Languages area of study, French Language & Literature has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Spanish Language & Literature | 11,092 |
| General Hispanic & Latin American Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics | 445 |
| Italian Language & Literature | 368 |
| General Romance Languages | 294 |
| Other Romance Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics | 180 |
Image Credit: By Susana Freixeiro under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
