Spanish Language Teacher Education: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Q: Which universities have the largest Spanish Language Teacher Education programs?

Currently 109 accredited institutions offer Spanish Language Teacher Education degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include CUNY City College (CCNY) (21 graduates), Nova Southeastern University (NSU) (15 graduates), and Brigham Young University (BYU–I), Idaho (15 graduates).

Q: Is enrollment in Spanish Language Teacher Education growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 745 in 2010 to a peak of 406 in 2020, before declining slightly to 373 in 2023-24. This represents a 50% decrease overall from 2010.

Q: What career paths are available with a Spanish Language Teacher Education degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary, and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. Related occupations employ approximately 1,773,170 professionals nationwide.

Program Overview

Prepared for those committed to advancing linguistic and cultural education, this program equips future educators with the expertise needed to teach Spanish language and literature across K–12 and postsecondary settings. It emphasizes pedagogical mastery, cultural fluency, and linguistic proficiency to foster effective language acquisition in diverse learning environments.

Spanish Linguistics: An in-depth exploration of phonetics, morphology, syntax, and semantics to understand the structural foundations of the Spanish language.
Second Language Acquisition Theory: Examination of cognitive and developmental processes involved in learning a language, with application to teaching strategies and curriculum design.
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: Instruction focused on integrating cultural contexts and diverse perspectives into language teaching to promote inclusivity and relevance.
Spanish Literature and Literary Analysis: Study of canonical and contemporary works from Spain and Latin America, emphasizing critical interpretation and thematic understanding.
Curriculum Development and Assessment: Training in designing standards-aligned language programs, selecting instructional materials, and evaluating student progress through formative and summative methods.
Classroom Management and Instructional Technology: Practical techniques for creating engaging, organized learning environments, enhanced by digital tools and multimedia resources.

Spanish Language Teacher Education Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

373

Total Graduates (2023-2024)

109

Universities & Colleges

Career Pathways

Career & Salary Outlook Schools Offering This Program Related Programs

Spanish Language Teacher Education Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Spanish Language Teacher Education degrees, including Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,773,170 professionals.

National Average Salaries

Occupation	Median Salary	Salary Range	Total Employment	Hourly Rate
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1124	$77,010	$47,090 - $134,960	21,170	N/A
Education Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1081	$72,090	$38,650 - $126,450	59,090	N/A
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2031	$64,580	$47,330 - $104,670	1,072,540	N/A
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2022	$62,970	$47,050 - $100,980	620,370	N/A

Salary Comparison

Data Source: Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 estimates, based on 4 related occupations. Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics.

*Salary Range Explanation: The salary range represents the 10th to 90th percentile, meaning 80% of workers in this occupation earn within this range. This excludes the lowest 10% and highest 10% of earners to provide a more realistic picture of typical compensation.

Important Disclaimer: Salary data represents national averages and varies by location, experience, employer, and market conditions. These statistics are estimates for general guidance and do not guarantee specific employment outcomes for graduates.

Spanish Language Teacher Education Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $53,133 in Mississippi to $96,855 in California—a 82% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,773,170 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.

Average Salary Range:

Top Universities for Spanish Language Teacher Education by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering Spanish Language Teacher Education programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Spanish Language Teacher Education is found at CUNY City College (CCNY) (21 graduates), Nova Southeastern University (NSU) (15 graduates), Brigham Young University (BYU–I), Idaho (15 graduates), University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) (14 graduates), and CUNY Queens College (11 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 364 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name	Award Levels	Graduates	Admissions	Location	Control	Website
CUNY City College (CCNY)	Master's	21	SAT: 1220-1460	New York, New York	Public	ccny.cuny.edu
Nova Southeastern University (NSU)	Master's	15	SAT: 1050-1310 ACT: 21-28	Fort Lauderdale, Florida	Private	nova.edu
Brigham Young University (BYU–I)	Bachelor's	15	SAT: 980-1200 ACT: 20-26	Rexburg, Idaho	Private	byui.edu
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)	Bachelor's Master's	14	SAT: 1120-1340 ACT: 25-32	Chicago, Illinois	Public	uic.edu
CUNY Queens College	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	11	SAT: 1100-1320	Queens, New York	Public	qc.cuny.edu
Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR)	Master's	10	N/A	Mercedita, Puerto Rico	Private	ponce.inter.edu
Stony Brook University (SBU)	Bachelor's Master's	9	SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 28-33	Stony Brook, New York	Public	stonybrook.edu
Northern Arizona University (NAU)	Bachelor's Master's	8	N/A	Flagstaff, Arizona	Public	nau.edu
Southern Oregon University (SOU)	Master's	8	N/A	Ashland, Oregon	Public	sou.edu
Brigham Young University (BYU)	Bachelor's Master's	8	SAT: 1290-1450 ACT: 28-32	Provo, Utah	Private	byu.edu
Winona State University (WSU)	Bachelor's	7	SAT: 980-1250 ACT: 19-25	Winona, Minnesota	Public	winona.edu
CUNY Brooklyn College	Bachelor's Master's	7	SAT: 1140-1420	Brooklyn, New York	Public	brooklyn.cuny.edu
SUNY Old Westbury	Master's	7	N/A	Old Westbury, New York	Public	oldwestbury.edu
Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR)	Bachelor's	7	N/A	Arecibo, Puerto Rico	Private	arecibo.inter.edu
University of Puerto Rico (UPR)	Bachelor's	7	N/A	San Juan, Puerto Rico	Public	uprrp.edu
University of Connecticut (UConn)	Bachelor's	6	SAT: 1210-1420 ACT: 29-33	Storrs, Connecticut	Public	uconn.edu
University at Buffalo (UB)	Master's	6	SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-32	Buffalo, New York	Public	buffalo.edu
State University of New York	Bachelor's	6	SAT: 1060-1270 ACT: 23-27	Oswego, New York	Public	oswego.edu
University of Puerto Rico (UPR Cayey)	Bachelor's	6	SAT: 858-1098	Cayey, Puerto Rico	Public	cayey.upr.edu
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)	Bachelor's	5	SAT: 1270-1510 ACT: 29-34	Champaign, Illinois	Public	illinois.edu
Saint Xavier University (SXU)	Bachelor's	5	N/A	Chicago, Illinois	Private	sxu.edu
Montgomery College (MC)	Associate's	5	N/A	Rockville, Maryland	Public	montgomerycollege.edu
Salem State University (SSU)	Master's	5	SAT: 990-1160	Salem, Massachusetts	Public	salemstate.edu
College of Staten Island CUNY (CSI)	Bachelor's	5	N/A	Staten Island, New York	Public	csi.cuny.edu
CUNY Lehman College	Bachelor's Master's	5	SAT: 860-1220	Bronx, New York	Public	lehman.edu
St. Joseph's University (SJNY)	Bachelor's	5	SAT: 1090-1280	Brooklyn, New York	Private	sjny.edu
SUNY College	Bachelor's	5	SAT: 1200-1380 ACT: 26-31	Geneseo, New York	Public	geneseo.edu
DePaul University	Bachelor's Master's	4	SAT: 1130-1340 ACT: 26-31	Chicago, Illinois	Private	depaul.edu
Olivet Nazarene University (ONU)	Bachelor's	4	SAT: 960-1190 ACT: 18-28	Bourbonnais, Illinois	Private	olivet.edu
Calvin University	Bachelor's	4	SAT: 1070-1340 ACT: 22-30	Grand Rapids, Michigan	Private	calvin.edu
State University of New York	Bachelor's	4	N/A	Cortland, New York	Public	www2.cortland.edu
Ohio University (OHIO)	Bachelor's	4	SAT: 1100-1290 ACT: 22-28	Athens, Ohio	Public	ohio.edu
Odessa College	Associate's	4	N/A	Odessa, Texas	Public	odessa.edu
Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR)	Bachelor's	4	N/A	San German, Puerto Rico	Private	sg.inter.edu
University of Delaware (UD)	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 1200-1360 ACT: 27-31	Newark, Delaware	Public	udel.edu
Ball State University (BSU)	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 1080-1250 ACT: 25-30	Muncie, Indiana	Public	bsu.edu
Taylor University	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 1070-1340 ACT: 23-30	Upland, Indiana	Private	taylor.edu
Eastern Michigan University (EMU)	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 910-1170 ACT: 18-26	Ypsilanti, Michigan	Public	emich.edu
Hope College	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 1090-1310 ACT: 26-31	Holland, Michigan	Private	hope.edu
Martin Luther College (MLC)	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 1078-1256 ACT: 22-27	New Ulm, Minnesota	Private	mlc-wels.edu
CUNY Hunter College	Master's Post-Master's	3	SAT: 1210-1470	New York, New York	Public	hunter.cuny.edu
Miami University	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 26-31	Oxford, Ohio	Public	miamioh.edu
Grove City College (GCC)	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 1128-1374 ACT: 23-31	Grove City, Pennsylvania	Private	gcc.edu
Messiah University	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 1100-1340 ACT: 22-30	Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania	Private	messiah.edu
Rhode Island College (RIC)	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 860-1160	Providence, Rhode Island	Public	ric.edu
Baylor University	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 1210-1400 ACT: 27-32	Waco, Texas	Private	baylor.edu
Utah Valley University (UVU)	Bachelor's	3	N/A	Orem, Utah	Public	uvu.edu
Saint Norbert College (SNC)	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 1066-1220 ACT: 22-29	De Pere, Wisconsin	Private	snc.edu
Concordia University (CUC)	Bachelor's	2	N/A	River Forest, Illinois	Private	cuchicago.edu
Trinity Christian College	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1050-1200 ACT: 23-28	Palos Heights, Illinois	Private	trnty.edu
Grace College and Theological Seminary	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 950-1200 ACT: 20-27	Winona Lake, Indiana	Private	grace.edu
Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU)	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 970-1180 ACT: 19-28	Marion, Indiana	Private	indwes.edu
Wichita State University (WSU)	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 970-1250 ACT: 18-26	Wichita, Kansas	Public	wichita.edu
University of Maine (UMaine)	Master's	2	N/A	Orono, Maine	Public	umaine.edu
Bridgewater State University (BSU)	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1040-1230 ACT: 18-27	Bridgewater, Massachusetts	Public	bridgew.edu
Gordon College	Master's	2	SAT: 1168-1370 ACT: 26-32	Wenham, Massachusetts	Private	gordon.edu
Northern Michigan University (NMU)	Bachelor's	2	N/A	Marquette, Michigan	Public	nmu.edu
Western Michigan University (WMU)	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 990-1220 ACT: 20-27	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Public	wmich.edu
Northwest Missouri State University	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 970-1200 ACT: 18-23	Maryville, Missouri	Public	nwmissouri.edu
University of Nevada (UNR)	Bachelor's	2	N/A	Reno, Nevada	Public	unr.edu
St. John's University (SJU)	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1110-1320 ACT: 24-29	Queens, New York	Private	stjohns.edu
SUNY Oneonta	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1090-1250 ACT: 23-28	Oneonta, New York	Public	suny.oneonta.edu
Salem College	Master's	2	SAT: 1078-1315 ACT: 18-27	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	Private	salem.edu
Cedarville University	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1110-1360 ACT: 23-29	Cedarville, Ohio	Private	cedarville.edu
University of Central Oklahoma (UCO)	Bachelor's	2	ACT: 17-24	Edmond, Oklahoma	Public	uco.edu
Union University	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1030-1340 ACT: 22-29	Jackson, Tennessee	Private	uu.edu
Houston Christian University (HCU)	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 970-1200 ACT: 19-28	Houston, Texas	Private	hc.edu
Lamar University (LU)	Master's	2	SAT: 910-1130 ACT: 18-24	Beaumont, Texas	Public	lamar.edu
Weber State University (WSU)	Bachelor's	2	N/A	Ogden, Utah	Public	weber.edu
Eastern Washington University (EWU)	Bachelor's	2	N/A	Cheney, Washington	Public	ewu.edu
University of Wyoming (UW)	Bachelor's	2	N/A	Laramie, Wyoming	Public	uwyo.edu
Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR)	Bachelor's	2	N/A	Barranquitas, Puerto Rico	Private	br.inter.edu
Spring Hill College (SHC)	Bachelor's	1	ACT: 19-24	Mobile, Alabama	Private	shc.edu
Augustana College	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1010-1250 ACT: 21-28	Rock Island, Illinois	Private	augustana.edu
Lewis University	Master's	1	SAT: 990-1220 ACT: 22-26	Romeoville, Illinois	Private	lewisu.edu
Morningside University	Bachelor's	1	ACT: 12-22	Sioux City, Iowa	Private	morningside.edu
Friends University	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 915-1090 ACT: 17-22	Wichita, Kansas	Private	friends.edu
Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 930-1190 ACT: 17-24	Richmond, Kentucky	Public	eku.edu
Frederick Community College (FCC)	Associate's	1	N/A	Frederick, Maryland	Public	frederick.edu
Boston College (BC)	Master's	1	SAT: 1430-1540 ACT: 33-34	Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts	Private	bc.edu
Albion College	Bachelor's	1	N/A	Albion, Michigan	Private	albion.edu
Cornerstone University (CU)	Bachelor's	1	N/A	Grand Rapids, Michigan	Private	cornerstone.edu
Bethel University	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1065-1240 ACT: 23-29	Saint Paul, Minnesota	Private	bethel.edu
Minnesota State University	Bachelor's	1	ACT: 22-25	Mankato, Minnesota	Public	mnsu.edu
University of Nebraska (UNL)	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1090-1330 ACT: 22-28	Lincoln, Nebraska	Public	unl.edu
Hofstra University	Master's	1	SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-31	Hempstead, New York	Private	hofstra.edu
New York University (NYU)	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1480-1570 ACT: 33-35	New York, New York	Private	nyu.edu
Niagara University	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1030-1240 ACT: 23-27	Niagara University, New York	Private	niagara.edu
Pace University	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1130-1328 ACT: 24-29	New York, New York	Private	pace.edu
Roberts Wesleyan University	Master's	1	SAT: 965-1250	Rochester, New York	Private	roberts.edu
University of Rochester	Master's	1	SAT: 1400-1540 ACT: 31-34	Rochester, New York	Private	rochester.edu
University at Albany (UAlbany)	Master's	1	N/A	Albany, New York	Public	albany.edu
Binghamton University	Master's	1	SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 29-34	Vestal, New York	Public	binghamton.edu
SUNY	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1060-1290 ACT: 21-28	Fredonia, New York	Public	fredonia.edu
Campbell University	Bachelor's	1	N/A	Buies Creek, North Carolina	Private	campbell.edu
North Dakota State University (NDSU)	Bachelor's	1	ACT: 19-24	Fargo, North Dakota	Public	ndsu.edu
University of Pittsburgh	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1075-1275 ACT: 22-28	Greensburg, Pennsylvania	Public	greensburg.pitt.edu
North Greenville University (NGU)	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1010-1250 ACT: 22-28	Tigerville, South Carolina	Private	ngu.edu
Lipscomb University	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1145-1350 ACT: 22-29	Nashville, Tennessee	Private	lipscomb.edu
Lee University	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1020-1240 ACT: 20-26	Cleveland, Tennessee	Private	leeuniversity.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Spanish Language Teacher Education programs

How much can I earn with a Spanish Language Teacher Education degree?

Salaries for Spanish Language Teacher Education graduates vary by role and location. Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $77,010 annually, while Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $72,090. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $96,855 compared to $53,133 in Mississippi. Approximately 1,773,170 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.

Which universities have the largest Spanish Language Teacher Education programs?

Currently 109 accredited institutions offer Spanish Language Teacher Education degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include CUNY City College (CCNY) (21 graduates), Nova Southeastern University (NSU) (15 graduates), and Brigham Young University (BYU–I), Idaho (15 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Spanish Language Teacher Education growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 745 in 2010 to a peak of 406 in 2020, before declining slightly to 373 in 2023-24. This represents a 50% decrease overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

What career paths are available with a Spanish Language Teacher Education degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary, and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. Related occupations employ approximately 1,773,170 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.

Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

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