Russian Language and Literature: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Students in this program engage in a comprehensive exploration of the Russian language and its literary traditions, combining linguistic precision with deep cultural and historical analysis. The curriculum is designed to develop advanced proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, while fostering critical understanding of Russian-speaking societies and their global influence.
- Philology: The study of language in written historical sources, emphasizing the evolution of Russian grammar, vocabulary, and textual interpretation across centuries.
- Dialects: Examination of regional variations in spoken Russian, including their sociolinguistic origins, geographic distribution, and role in cultural identity.
- Literature: In-depth analysis of major Russian literary works from the 19th century to the present, covering narrative techniques, thematic development, and historical context.
- Applied Language Skills: Training in using Russian in professional contexts such as international business, scientific research, diplomacy, and technology, with an emphasis on real-world communication and translation.
Russian Language and Literature Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Russian Language and Literature Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Russian 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 |
Salary Comparison
Russian 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 Russian Language and Literature by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 80 institutions offering Russian 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 Russian Language and Literature is found at Los Angeles City College (LACC) (23 graduates), Brigham Young University (BYU) (18 graduates), Ohio State University, Main Campus (13 graduates), University of Arizona (8 graduates), and University of California (UCD), Davis (8 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 315 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles City College (LACC) |
Other Award
|
23 | N/A | Los Angeles, California | Public | lacitycollege.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 |
SAT: 1290-1450 ACT: 28-32 |
Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
13 |
SAT: 1330-1480 ACT: 29-32 |
Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
8 |
SAT: 1160-1420 ACT: 21-30 |
Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | N/A | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| Vassar College |
Bachelor's
|
8 |
SAT: 1435-1550 ACT: 33-35 |
Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | vassar.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
8 | N/A | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Dickinson College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | N/A | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | Private | dickinson.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 |
SAT: 1390-1550 ACT: 32-34 |
Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
7 |
SAT: 1180-1380 ACT: 26-32 |
Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Middlebury College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 |
SAT: 1430-1550 ACT: 33-34 |
Middlebury, Vermont | Private | middlebury.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
|
6 |
SAT: 1370-1520 ACT: 32-35 |
College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Amherst College |
Bachelor's
|
6 |
SAT: 1360-1550 ACT: 31-35 |
Amherst, Massachusetts | Private | amherst.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
6 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
|
6 |
SAT: 1360-1510 ACT: 28-32 |
Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
5 |
SAT: 1160-1390 ACT: 25-32 |
Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Grinnell College |
Bachelor's
|
5 |
SAT: 1418-1550 ACT: 31-34 |
Grinnell, Iowa | Private | grinnell.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
|
5 |
SAT: 900-1160 ACT: 19-26 |
Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| United States Military Academy (USMA) |
Bachelor's
|
5 |
SAT: 1200-1430 ACT: 28-33 |
West Point, New York | Public | westpoint.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 |
SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 23-29 |
Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
|
5 |
SAT: 1270-1450 ACT: 29-33 |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Swarthmore College |
Bachelor's
|
5 |
SAT: 1460-1560 ACT: 33-34 |
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | Private | swarthmore.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
|
5 |
SAT: 1180-1398 ACT: 22-29 |
Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | N/A | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | N/A | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| De Anza College |
Other Award
|
4 | N/A | Cupertino, California | Public | deanza.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | N/A | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 |
SAT: 1240-1390 ACT: 27-31 |
Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| University of Notre Dame (ND) |
Bachelor's
|
4 |
SAT: 1440-1540 ACT: 33-35 |
Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | nd.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
|
4 |
SAT: 1130-1320 ACT: 22-28 |
Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Wellesley College |
Bachelor's
|
4 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 33-35 |
Wellesley, Massachusetts | Private | wellesley.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
|
4 |
SAT: 1090-1330 ACT: 22-28 |
Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| College of the Holy Cross |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1250-1420 ACT: 28-32 |
Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | holycross.edu |
| Williams College |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1470-1560 ACT: 33-35 |
Williamstown, Massachusetts | Private | williams.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1150-1350 ACT: 26-31 |
East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1310-1480 ACT: 27-31 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Dartmouth College |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 33-35 |
Hanover, New Hampshire | Private | dartmouth.edu |
| University of New Hampshire (UNH) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1120-1320 ACT: 26-31 |
Durham, New Hampshire | Public | unh.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1270-1480 ACT: 28-33 |
New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | SAT: 1210-1470 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1400-1540 ACT: 31-34 |
Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| Wake Forest University (WFC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1390-1510 ACT: 32-34 |
Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | wfu.edu |
| Bryn Mawr College |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1300-1470 ACT: 30-33 |
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania | Private | brynmawr.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| The University of the South |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1236-1398 ACT: 27-32 |
Sewanee, Tennessee | Private | sewanee.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1250-1420 ACT: 29-32 |
Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| Central Washington University (CWU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | N/A | Ellensburg, Washington | Public | cwu.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
3 |
SAT: 1510-1580 ACT: 34-35 |
Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1240-1410 ACT: 29-32 |
Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Connecticut College (Conn) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1340-1470 ACT: 31-33 |
New London, Connecticut | Private | conncoll.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1200-1360 ACT: 27-31 |
Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1350-1500 ACT: 31-34 |
Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1390-1510 ACT: 31-33 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| Bowdoin College |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1480-1550 ACT: 33-35 |
Brunswick, Maine | Private | bowdoin.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMBC) |
Other Award
|
2 |
SAT: 1220-1410 ACT: 23-30 |
Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umbc.edu |
| Carleton College |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1430-1550 ACT: 32-34 |
Northfield, Minnesota | Private | carleton.edu |
| Macalester College |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1350-1510 ACT: 30-33 |
Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | macalester.edu |
| St Olaf College |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1260-1470 ACT: 28-32 |
Northfield, Minnesota | Private | wp.stolaf.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | ACT: 23-28 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| Duke University |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1510-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Kenyon College |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1360-1500 ACT: 31-34 |
Gambier, Ohio | Private | kenyon.edu |
| Bucknell University |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1300-1450 ACT: 31-33 |
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania | Private | bucknell.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1510-1560 ACT: 34-35 |
Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
|
2 | N/A | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| Baylor University |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1210-1400 ACT: 27-32 |
Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1010-1240 ACT: 20-26 |
Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
2 | ACT: 18-24 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| Diablo Valley College (DVC) |
Other Award
|
1 | N/A | Pleasant Hill, California | Public | dvc.edu |
| Grossmont College |
Other Award
|
1 | N/A | El Cajon, California | Public | grossmont.edu |
| San Diego Mesa College |
Associate's
|
1 | N/A | San Diego, California | Public | sdmesa.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | N/A | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35 |
Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1210-1420 ACT: 29-33 |
Norton, Massachusetts | Private | wheatoncollege.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1150-1330 ACT: 23-29 |
Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Rowan University |
Other Award
|
1 |
SAT: 1100-1310 ACT: 26-30 |
Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1480-1570 ACT: 33-35 |
New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1000-1230 ACT: 18-25 |
Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Reed College |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1300-1510 ACT: 29-34 |
Portland, Oregon | Private | reed.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1220-1400 ACT: 27-32 |
University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Beloit College (Beloit) |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1210-1360 ACT: 26-31 |
Beloit, Wisconsin | Private | beloit.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Russian Language and Literature programs
How much can I earn with a Russian Language and Literature degree?
Salaries for Russian 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 Russian Language and Literature programs?
Currently 80 accredited institutions offer Russian Language and Literature degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Los Angeles City College (LACC) (23 graduates), Brigham Young University (BYU) (18 graduates), and Ohio State University, Main Campus (13 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 Russian Language and Literature growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 545 in 2010 to a peak of 460 in 2020, before declining slightly to 315 in 2023-24. This represents a 42% 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 Russian 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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