French Language and Literature: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Students in this program engage in an in-depth exploration of the French language across its global variations and historical evolution. The curriculum emphasizes linguistic precision, cultural context, and practical application, preparing learners to navigate French-speaking environments in academic, professional, and international settings.
- Philology: The study of language development, historical evolution, and textual analysis, focusing on the origins and transformations of French across centuries.
- Metropolitan French: Advanced instruction in the standard form of French as spoken and written in France, including grammar, syntax, and literary usage.
- Canadian French: Examination of regional varieties of French spoken in Canada, with attention to phonetics, vocabulary, and sociolinguistic differences from European French.
- African and Caribbean Creoles: Analysis of French-based creole languages in Africa and the Caribbean, including linguistic structure, historical roots, and sociocultural significance.
- Dialects: Investigation into regional and sociolectal variations of French, exploring how geography, identity, and social dynamics shape spoken language.
- Applied Language Use: Training in deploying French in specialized domains such as international business, scientific research, technology, diplomacy, and cross-cultural communication.
French Language and Literature Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
French Language and Literature Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with French 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 |
French 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 French Language and Literature by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering French 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 French Language and Literature is found at University of Wisconsin-Madison (71 graduates), University of Virginia (UVA), Main Campus (36 graduates), Middlebury College (34 graduates), Weber State University (WSU) (31 graduates), and Columbia University in the City of New York (29 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,262 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
71 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Middlebury College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
34 | Middlebury, Vermont | Private | middlebury.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
31 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
29 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
26 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Bachelor's
Residency
Other Award
|
22 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
18 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
18 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
18 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
18 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
18 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
18 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
17 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| University of Notre Dame (ND) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
16 | Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | nd.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Mount Holyoke College (MHC) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | South Hadley, Massachusetts | Private | mtholyoke.edu |
| Smith College |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Northampton, Massachusetts | Private | smith.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Drexel University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
14 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Glendale, California | Public | glendale.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Kalamazoo College |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Private | kzoo.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Bryn Mawr College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania | Private | brynmawr.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| Amherst College |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Private | amherst.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
11 | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| Santa Clara University (SCU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Santa Clara, California | Private | scu.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
10 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Bachelor's
|
10 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| United States Military Academy (USMA) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | West Point, New York | Public | westpoint.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Baylor University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Grinnell College |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Grinnell, Iowa | Private | grinnell.edu |
| Boston College (BC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | Private | bc.edu |
| Tufts University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| St Olaf College |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Northfield, Minnesota | Private | wp.stolaf.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| University of Mount Union |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Alliance, Ohio | Private | mountunion.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
9 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
8 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| MiraCosta College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Oceanside, California | Public | miracosta.edu |
| San Diego Mesa College |
Associate's
|
8 | San Diego, California | Public | sdmesa.edu |
| University of San Diego (USD) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | San Diego, California | Private | sandiego.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
8 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Wellesley College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Wellesley, Massachusetts | Private | wellesley.edu |
| University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) |
Other Award
|
8 | Detroit, Michigan | Private | udmercy.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
8 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
8 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| Princeton University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Princeton, New Jersey | Private | princeton.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Hamilton College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Clinton, New York | Private | hamilton.edu |
| Kenyon College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Gambier, Ohio | Private | kenyon.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Villanova University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Villanova, Pennsylvania | Private | villanova.edu |
| William & Mary (W&M) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Williamsburg, Virginia | Public | wm.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Montana State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Bozeman, Montana | Public | montana.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | New York, New York | Public | gc.cuny.edu |
| Nazareth University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Rochester, New York | Private | www2.naz.edu |
| Skidmore College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Private | skidmore.edu |
| Vassar College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | vassar.edu |
| Duke University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Wilmington, North Carolina | Public | uncw.edu |
| Denison University (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Granville, Ohio | Private | denison.edu |
| Wofford College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Private | wofford.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| California State University (CSUSB) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | San Bernardino, California | Public | csusb.edu |
| Chabot College (CC) |
Other Award
|
6 | Hayward, California | Public | chabotcollege.edu |
| Chapman University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Orange, California | Private | chapman.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about French Language and Literature programs
How much can I earn with a French Language and Literature degree?
Salaries for French 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 French Language and Literature programs?
Currently 373 accredited institutions offer French Language and Literature degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Wisconsin-Madison (71 graduates), University of Virginia (UVA), Main Campus (36 graduates), and Middlebury College (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 French Language and Literature growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 4,334 in 2010 to a peak of 2,750 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,001 in 2023-24. This represents a 54% 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 French 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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