Spanish Language and Literature: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Students in this program engage in a comprehensive exploration of the Spanish language and its literary traditions across global contexts. The curriculum emphasizes linguistic precision, cultural fluency, and critical analysis, preparing learners to communicate effectively in diverse professional and academic environments.
- Philology: The historical and linguistic study of Spanish, tracing its evolution from Latin roots through medieval and modern developments.
- Modern Castillan: In-depth study of standard Spanish as spoken and written in Spain, including grammar, syntax, and contemporary usage.
- Latin American and regional Spanish dialects: Examination of linguistic variations across Latin America, including sociolinguistic patterns and regional idioms.
- Language applications in business: Development of professional communication skills for international trade, marketing, and cross-cultural negotiation.
- Language applications in science and technology: Training in technical Spanish for fields such as engineering, healthcare, and information technology.
Spanish Language and Literature Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Spanish Language and Literature Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Spanish 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 |
Spanish 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 Spanish Language and Literature by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Spanish 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 Spanish Language and Literature is found at University of Wisconsin-Madison (165 graduates), Boise State University (BBU) (126 graduates), Weber State University (WSU) (119 graduates), University of Arizona (112 graduates), and Idaho State University (ISU) (106 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 4,271 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
|
165 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Bachelor's
Residency
Other Award
|
126 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
119 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
112 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Idaho State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Other Award
|
106 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
103 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
87 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
86 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
84 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
77 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| California State University (CSUSB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
74 | San Bernardino, California | Public | csusb.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
70 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
70 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Bakersfield College (BC) |
Associate's
|
66 | Bakersfield, California | Public | bakersfieldcollege.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
66 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
64 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
56 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
56 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
54 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
54 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
53 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| University of Notre Dame (ND) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
51 | Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | nd.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| San Joaquin Delta College |
Associate's
|
50 | Stockton, California | Public | deltacollege.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
46 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Middlebury College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
46 | Middlebury, Vermont | Private | middlebury.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
43 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
39 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
39 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
37 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Baylor University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
37 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| California State University (CSUB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
36 | Bakersfield, California | Public | csub.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
36 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Southwestern College (SWC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
35 | Chula Vista, California | Public | swccd.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| Wake Forest University (WFC) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | wfu.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
34 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
34 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
34 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
34 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| Quinnipiac University (QU) |
Postbac Cert.
Residency
|
33 | Hamden, Connecticut | Private | qu.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | Los Angeles, California | Public | calstatela.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
32 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
32 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWL) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Public | uwlax.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Turlock, California | Public | csustan.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
31 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| Kalamazoo College |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Private | kzoo.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
31 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
31 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Wofford College |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Private | wofford.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
31 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
30 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
30 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
|
30 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
28 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
28 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
28 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Butler University |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | butler.edu |
| California State University (CSUSM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | San Marcos, California | Public | csusm.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
26 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
26 | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) |
Associate's
|
25 | Santa Rosa, California | Public | santarosa.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Emory University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Bismarck State College (BSC) |
Residency
|
25 | Bismarck, North Dakota | Public | bismarckstate.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| Saint Norbert College (SNC) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
25 | De Pere, Wisconsin | Private | snc.edu |
| Kean University |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Residency
|
23 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
23 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| Tufts University |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Marquette University |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Spanish Language and Literature programs
How much can I earn with a Spanish Language and Literature degree?
Salaries for Spanish 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 Spanish Language and Literature programs?
Currently 813 accredited institutions offer Spanish Language and Literature degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Wisconsin-Madison (165 graduates), Boise State University (BBU) (126 graduates), and Weber State University (WSU) (119 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 and Literature growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 15,184 in 2010 to a peak of 11,828 in 2020, before declining slightly to 8,891 in 2023-24. This represents a 41% 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 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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