by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, Spanish language and literature was the 78th most popular major nationwide with 11,092 degrees awarded. This 726 less than the prior year, a decrease of 6.5%.
Our 2023 Best Spanish Language & Literature Schools ranking analyzes 210 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for Spanish language and literature students. Explore this or one of our many other custom Spanish language rankings further below.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in Spanish language and literature is talking to others to convey information effectively. 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. Once you obtain your degree, additional Spanish language certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Spanish Language degree levels vary. Spanish Language & Literature programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest Spanish language degree you can get. How long it takes to complete some common Spanish language degree levels is shown below.
| 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 Spanish language, with approximately 37.8% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to Spanish 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% |
Most workers in Spanish language have at least a master's degree. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in Spanish language and literature have received.
This of course varies depending on which Spanish language career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your Spanish language degree? Spanish 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 Spanish 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 Spanish language graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for Spanish language and literature graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers Spanish 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 1,777 different Spanish 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 Spanish language school rankings to help you with this.
One of 6 majors within the Romance Languages area of study, Spanish Language & Literature has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| French Language & Literature | 2,544 |
| 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.
