Chinese Language and Literature: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Students in this program explore the rich linguistic and literary traditions of China, gaining advanced proficiency in the Chinese language while examining its historical, cultural, and regional variations. The curriculum emphasizes both theoretical and practical mastery, preparing learners to engage with Chinese-speaking communities in academic, professional, and global contexts.
- Philology: The study of language in written historical sources, focusing on the evolution of Chinese characters, texts, and linguistic forms across centuries.
- Linguistics: An in-depth analysis of phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistic structures within Mandarin and other Chinese dialects.
- Dialects and Pidgins: Exploration of regional linguistic variations such as Cantonese, Shanghainese, and Hakka, as well as contact languages like Chinese Pidgin English.
- Applied Language Studies: Practical training in using Chinese in specialized domains including international business, scientific research, technology development, and cross-cultural communication.
Chinese Language and Literature Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Chinese Language and Literature Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Chinese Language and Literature degrees, including Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education and Interpreters and Translators. 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 1,147,070 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 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2031 | $64,580 | $47,330 - $104,670 | 1,072,540 | N/A |
| Interpreters and Translators 27-3091 | $59,440 | $35,630 - $99,830 | 53,360 | $28.58 |
Chinese Language and Literature Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $48,357 in Mississippi to $92,850 in California—a 92% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Rhode Island. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,147,070 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 Chinese Language and Literature by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Chinese Language and Literature 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 Chinese Language and Literature is found at Weber State University (WSU) (41 graduates), City College of San Francisco (CCSF) (36 graduates), University of Wisconsin-Madison (34 graduates), CUNY Hunter College (30 graduates), and University of Rhode Island (URI) (30 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 623 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 | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
41 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| City College of San Francisco (CCSF) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
36 | San Francisco, California | Public | ccsf.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
34 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Bachelor's
|
30 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
19 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| United States Naval Academy (USNA) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Annapolis, Maryland | Public | usna.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Williams College |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Williamstown, Massachusetts | Private | williams.edu |
| Laney College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Oakland, California | Public | laney.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| St Olaf College |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Northfield, Minnesota | Private | wp.stolaf.edu |
| Middlebury College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Middlebury, Vermont | Private | middlebury.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of Notre Dame (ND) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | nd.edu |
| United States Military Academy (USMA) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | West Point, New York | Public | westpoint.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
8 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Vassar College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | vassar.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| Stanford University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| San Diego Mesa College |
Associate's
|
6 | San Diego, California | Public | sdmesa.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Residency
Other Award
|
6 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
6 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Macalester College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | macalester.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Drexel University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| University of Puget Sound (UPS) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Tacoma, Washington | Private | pugetsound.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| De Anza College |
Other Award
|
5 | Cupertino, California | Public | deanza.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| College of the Holy Cross |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | holycross.edu |
| Colgate University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Hamilton, New York | Private | colgate.edu |
| Hamilton College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Clinton, New York | Private | hamilton.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| Chaffey College |
Associate's
|
4 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Public | chaffey.edu |
| Diablo Valley College (DVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
4 | Pleasant Hill, California | Public | dvc.edu |
| Wheaton College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Wheaton, Illinois | Private | wheaton.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Bates College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Lewiston, Maine | Private | bates.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Cerritos College |
Associate's
|
3 | Norwalk, California | Public | cerritos.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Other Award
|
3 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Carleton College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Northfield, Minnesota | Private | carleton.edu |
| Union College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Schenectady, New York | Private | union.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Whitman College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Walla Walla, Washington | Private | whitman.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| Claremont McKenna College (CMC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Claremont, California | Private | cmc.edu |
| Occidental College (Oxy) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Los Angeles, California | Private | oxy.edu |
| Pomona College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Claremont, California | Private | pomona.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Grinnell College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Grinnell, Iowa | Private | grinnell.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMBC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umbc.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
2 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Wake Forest University (WFC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | wfu.edu |
| Kenyon College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Gambier, Ohio | Private | kenyon.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| Wofford College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Private | wofford.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| Carthage College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Private | carthage.edu |
| Irvine Valley College (IVC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Irvine, California | Public | ivc.edu |
| Saddleback College |
Associate's
|
1 | Mission Viejo, California | Public | saddleback.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Emory University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| North Central College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Naperville, Illinois | Private | northcentralcollege.edu |
| Centre College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Danville, Kentucky | Private | centre.edu |
| Bard College at Simon's Rock |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Great Barrington, Massachusetts | Private | simons-rock.edu |
| Tufts University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Master's
|
1 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Davidson College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Davidson, North Carolina | Private | davidson.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Other Award
|
1 | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| University of Tulsa (TU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Private | utulsa.edu |
| Dickinson College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | Private | dickinson.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Other Award
|
1 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| Lehigh University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | lehigh.edu |
| Messiah University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Private | messiah.edu |
| Temple University |
Other Award
|
1 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Trinity University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | new.trinity.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Chinese Language and Literature programs
How much can I earn with a Chinese Language and Literature degree?
Salaries for Chinese Language and Literature graduates vary by role and location. Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $77,010 annually, while Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn around $64,580. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $92,850 compared to $48,357 in Mississippi. Approximately 1,147,070 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 Chinese Language and Literature programs?
Currently 103 accredited institutions offer Chinese Language and Literature degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Weber State University (WSU) (41 graduates), City College of San Francisco (CCSF) (36 graduates), and University of Wisconsin-Madison (34 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 Chinese Language and Literature growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 771 in 2010 to a peak of 734 in 2020, before declining slightly to 626 in 2023-24. This represents a 19% 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 Chinese Language and Literature degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, and Interpreters and Translators. Related occupations employ approximately 1,147,070 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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