American Sign Language: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
American Sign Language (ASL) is a dynamic, visual-gestural language central to the identity and communication practices of Deaf communities in the United States and parts of Canada. This program offers a comprehensive academic exploration of ASL as both a linguistic system and a cultural expression, equipping learners with the skills to engage authentically and proficiently within Deaf cultural contexts.
- ASL Development: Examines the historical and sociolinguistic evolution of American Sign Language, including its emergence as a distinct language separate from English.
- ASL Morphology and Syntax: Investigates the structural rules governing signs, including inflection, derivation, and sentence formation unique to sign language grammar.
- Signing Technique: Focuses on precision, facial expressions, body positioning, and spatial awareness essential for clear and natural sign production.
- English Translation of ASL: Develops the ability to accurately interpret and convey ASL content into written and spoken English, emphasizing linguistic differences between the two systems.
- Formal and Colloquial ASL: Explores variations in register, from standard, structured signing used in formal settings to informal, regional, and expressive forms used in everyday conversation.
- ASL Transcription: Introduces methods for documenting sign language using standardized systems such as Stokoe notation, HamNoSys, and SignWriting to capture linguistic structure and meaning.
American Sign Language Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
American Sign Language Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with American Sign Language 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 |
American Sign Language 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 American Sign Language by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering American Sign Language 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 American Sign Language is found at University of Wisconsin (UWEC), Eau Claire (48 graduates), Temple University (32 graduates), El Paso Community College (EPCC) (32 graduates), Grossmont College (28 graduates), and Gallaudet University (26 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 877 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 (UWEC) |
Other Award
|
48 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| Temple University |
Other Award
|
32 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| El Paso Community College (EPCC) |
Other Award
|
32 | El Paso, Texas | Public | epcc.edu |
| Grossmont College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | El Cajon, California | Public | grossmont.edu |
| Gallaudet University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gallaudet.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Residency
Other Award
|
25 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| Los Medanos College (LMC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Pittsburg, California | Public | losmedanos.edu |
| Saint Louis Community College (STLCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
21 | Bridgeton, Missouri | Public | stlcc.edu |
| Lamar University (LU) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lamar.edu |
| Antelope Valley Community College District (AVCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
19 | Lancaster, California | Public | avc.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| Bakersfield College (BC) |
Associate's
|
16 | Bakersfield, California | Public | bakersfieldcollege.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Other Award
|
16 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) |
Other Award
|
15 | Fergus Falls, Minnesota | Public | minnesota.edu |
| Fresno City College (FCC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnocitycollege.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
14 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Oxnard College |
Associate's
|
13 | Oxnard, California | Public | oxnardcollege.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Other Award
|
13 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Los Angeles Pierce College (LAPC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Woodland Hills, California | Public | lapc.edu |
| College of the Sequoias (COS) |
Associate's
|
12 | Visalia, California | Public | cos.edu |
| American River College (ARC) |
Associate's
|
11 | Sacramento, California | Public | arc.losrios.edu |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
Other Award
|
11 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | cnm.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWO) |
Other Award
|
11 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Public | uwosh.edu |
| Saddleback College |
Associate's
|
10 | Mission Viejo, California | Public | saddleback.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
10 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Palomar College |
Associate's
|
9 | San Marcos, California | Public | www2.palomar.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
9 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Other Award
|
9 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| Irvine Valley College (IVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Irvine, California | Public | ivc.edu |
| Long Beach City College (LBCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Long Beach, California | Public | lbcc.edu |
| Southwestern College (SWC) |
Other Award
|
8 | Chula Vista, California | Public | swccd.edu |
| Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) |
Other Award
|
8 | Palos Hills, Illinois | Public | morainevalley.edu |
| Saint Paul College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
8 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Public | saintpaul.edu |
| Rowan University |
Other Award
|
8 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ (UCNJ) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
8 | Cranford, New Jersey | Public | ucc.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| College of Western Idaho (CWI) |
Associate's
|
8 | Nampa, Idaho | Public | cwi.edu |
| Clovis Community College (CCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Fresno, California | Public | cloviscollege.edu |
| Cerritos College |
Associate's
|
7 | Norwalk, California | Public | cerritos.edu |
| Crafton Hills College (CHC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
7 | Yucaipa, California | Public | craftonhills.edu |
| San Diego Mesa College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
7 | San Diego, California | Public | sdmesa.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Other Award
|
7 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Vincennes University (VU) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
7 | Vincennes, Indiana | Public | vinu.edu |
| Pine Technical & Community College (PTCC) |
Other Award
|
7 | Pine City, Minnesota | Public | pine.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU-OKC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | osuokc.edu |
| Tulsa Community College (TCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsacc.edu |
| Mountwest Community and Technical College (MCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
7 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | mctc.edu |
| Chaffey College |
Associate's
|
6 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Public | chaffey.edu |
| East Los Angeles College (ELAC) |
Other Award
|
6 | Monterey Park, California | Public | elac.edu |
| Reedley College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Reedley, California | Public | reedleycollege.edu |
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Other Award
|
6 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| Rio Hondo College (RHC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Whittier, California | Public | riohondo.edu |
| San Joaquin Delta College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Stockton, California | Public | deltacollege.edu |
| McDaniel College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Westminster, Maryland | Private | mcdaniel.edu |
| Western Nevada College (WNC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Carson City, Nevada | Public | wnc.edu |
| Onondaga Community College (OCC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Syracuse, New York | Public | sunyocc.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| Cuyamaca College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | El Cajon, California | Public | cuyamaca.edu |
| Ohlone College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
5 | Fremont, California | Public | ohlone.edu |
| Sacramento City College (SCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | Sacramento, California | Public | scc.losrios.edu |
| Berkeley City College (BCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
5 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeleycitycollege.edu |
| Frederick Community College (FCC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Frederick, Maryland | Public | frederick.edu |
| Framingham State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Framingham, Massachusetts | Public | framingham.edu |
| Utah Tech University (UT) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
5 | Saint George, Utah | Public | utahtech.edu |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College (LATTC) |
Other Award
|
4 | Los Angeles, California | Public | lattc.edu |
| San Diego City College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
4 | San Diego, California | Public | sdcity.edu |
| Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Arnold, Maryland | Public | aacc.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
4 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wcccd.edu |
| North Central University (NCU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | northcentral.edu |
| Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Canandaigua, New York | Public | flcc.edu |
| Nassau Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Garden City, New York | Public | ncc.edu |
| Casper College |
Associate's
|
4 | Casper, Wyoming | Public | caspercollege.edu |
| Coconino Community College (CCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
4 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | coconino.edu |
| Imperial Valley College (IVC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Imperial, California | Public | imperial.edu |
| Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
3 | Monterey, California | Public | mpc.edu |
| Solano Community College |
Associate's
|
3 | Fairfield, California | Public | welcome.solano.edu |
| Montgomery College (MC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Rockville, Maryland | Public | montgomerycollege.edu |
| San Juan College (SJC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Farmington, New Mexico | Public | sanjuancollege.edu |
| Cuyahoga Community College District (Tri-C) |
Associate's
|
3 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | tri-c.edu |
| Cosumnes River College (CRC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Sacramento, California | Public | crc.losrios.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| College of Southern Idaho (CSI) |
Associate's
|
2 | Twin Falls, Idaho | Public | csi.edu |
| Bethel University |
Associate's
|
2 | Mishawaka, Indiana | Private | betheluniversity.edu |
| Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Santa Fe, New Mexico | Public | sfcc.edu |
| Keuka College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Keuka Park, New York | Private | keuka.edu |
| Maryville College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Maryville, Tennessee | Private | maryvillecollege.edu |
| Los Angeles City College (LACC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Los Angeles, California | Public | lacitycollege.edu |
| Palo Verde College (PVC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Blythe, California | Public | paloverde.edu |
| Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | sbcc.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| Madonna University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Livonia, Michigan | Private | madonna.edu |
| St Catherine University (St. Kate’s) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | stkate.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about American Sign Language programs
How much can I earn with a American Sign Language degree?
Salaries for American Sign Language 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 American Sign Language programs?
Currently 102 accredited institutions offer American Sign Language degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Wisconsin (UWEC), Eau Claire (48 graduates), Temple University (32 graduates), and El Paso Community College (EPCC) (32 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 American Sign Language growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 299 in 2010 to a peak of 892 in 2020, before declining slightly to 879 in 2023-24. This represents a 194% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, 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 American Sign Language 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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