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Best Bachelor's in Foreign Language Teacher Education Programs in 2026

Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology

Published ·Last updated

The top 16 out of 18 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database, ranked on graduation rate, affordability, and more. CIP 13.1306.

Foreign language teacher education prepares you to teach a world language such as Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, or Latin, most often at the middle and high school level though some graduates teach in elementary programs. The coursework blends advanced study of the target language and its cultures with classroom methods for building reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in students. The ranking below covers accredited bachelor's programs, and each listing shows costs, graduation rates, and other measures to help you compare.

18Programs analyzed
$10,525Median in-state tuition
73%Median graduation rate
$72,040Median wage, secondary school teachers
  • In-state tuition typically runs from $5,995 to $42,495 a year, with a median near $10,525.
  • 16 of 18 ranked programs sit at public universities.
  • Most lead to an initial state teaching license, which means supervised student teaching plus a licensure exam (37 of 52 US jurisdictions use the Praxis series).
  • We rank on graduation rate first, then selectivity and affordability, all from federal IPEDS data.
  1. 1

    University of Georgia

    Athens, GAPublic

    91score
    • 90%Grad rate
    • $10,034/yrIn-state tuition
    • $30,272/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 38%Admit rate
    • 32,399Undergrads
    • 6Grads/yr
    • 1375SAT mid
    • B.S.Ed. in TESOL and World Language Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    UGA's B.S.Ed. in TESOL and World Language Education prepares candidates to teach modern and classical languages in preschool through grade 12, with plans of study for French, German, Latin, and Spanish and certification available in additional languages. The final year is a two-semester, on-campus capstone: candidates complete two fall classroom experiences and then teach full-time at host schools in the spring. Graduates earn initial Georgia certification (T-4) and may add a TESOL endorsement while completing the degree. Graduates of this foreign language teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. Start with the outcome that matters most, 90% of students graduate, top 1% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 38% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $10,034 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  2. 2

    Ohio State University-Main Campus

    Columbus, OHPublic

    79score
    • 88%Grad rate
    • $12,180/yrIn-state tuition
    • $38,958/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 61%Admit rate
    • 46,815Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • 1395SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Education, World Language Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Ohio State's World Language Education major, a Bachelor of Science in Education taught only on the Columbus campus, is built for students who want to teach a language they love, leading to Ohio's K-12 license in French, German, Italian, or Spanish. Because candidates graduate with a double major in education and their chosen language, the program balances deep language study with the craft of teaching. Field experiences reach across the full K-12 span, and a year-long internship with a mentor teacher, capped by full-time student teaching, anchors the final stretch. Prospective applicants should note that the major is no longer accepting new students, though those admitted before AU26 may continue toward the degree. As a bachelor's degree in foreign language teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Ohio.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. Its strongest card is completion: a 88% graduation rate lands it in the top 6% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 61% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $12,180 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  3. 3

    Auburn University

    Auburn, ALPublic

    79score
    • 82%Grad rate
    • $11,016/yrIn-state tuition
    • $33,048/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 46%Admit rate
    • 27,907Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 1325SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Foreign Language Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Auburn's College of Education offers a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Language Education with concentrations in French, German, or Spanish Education. The program is designed for students who intend to teach at the secondary level and is offered on-campus only. It is housed in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching alongside graduate French and Spanish education tracks. A bachelor's-level path in foreign language teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Alabama.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. Start with the outcome that matters most, 82% of students graduate, top 18% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 46% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $11,016 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  4. 4

    Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

    University Park, PAPublic

    72score
    • 86%Grad rate
    • $20,066/yrIn-state tuition
    • $41,212/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 61%Admit rate
    • 42,604Undergrads
    • 6Grads/yr
    • 1330SAT mid
    • World Languages (K-12) Education, B.S.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Penn State's Bachelor of Science in World Languages (K-12) Education prepares candidates to teach a language across the full grade span, with certification options that include French, German, Spanish, Latin, Russian, and pathways in Bilingual Education and ESL. Credit requirements run from 124 to 140 depending on the language chosen, and completers earn a Pennsylvania Instructional I certificate. Classroom readiness is woven through the sequence, from an introductory field experience to placements at both the elementary and secondary levels and a 15-credit student teaching practicum in the senior year. A study abroad term, typically in the sixth semester, deepens the language immersion that this kind of teaching demands. Prospective applicants should note that the Penn State bulletin lists the program on an enrollment hold, not accepting new students as of April 25, 2024. Graduates of this foreign language teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. Its strongest card is completion: a 86% graduation rate lands it in the top 12% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 61% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $20,066 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.

    Program page
  5. 5

    University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

    Norman, OKPublic

    61score
    • 75%Grad rate
    • $5,220/yrIn-state tuition
    • $22,800/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 77%Admit rate
    • 23,329Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • 1235SAT mid
    • World Language Education, B.S. Ed.
    About the program

    Students who want to build their teaching around a language they love will find a clear path in the University of Oklahoma's World Language Education, B.S.Ed., housed in the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education. Certification runs across French, German, Latin, and Spanish for grades PreK through 12, and future modern-language teachers demonstrate their own fluency by scoring at or above Advanced Low on the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview. What sets the experience apart is how early candidates get into real classrooms, with at least 100 hours logged from the first Professional Education course before a full sixteen-week internship. Passing the OSAT and PPAT exams earns a recommendation for Oklahoma certification, and study abroad is encouraged along the way. The four-year program is CAEP accredited, tying language study and hands-on teaching practice into a single coherent degree. As a bachelor's degree in foreign language teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Oklahoma.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 75%, solid without being a standout. A 77% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $5,220 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  6. 6

    Miami University-Oxford

    Oxford, OHPublic

    57score
    • 80%Grad rate
    • $14,420/yrIn-state tuition
    • $35,866/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 75%Admit rate
    • 16,816Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 1305SAT mid
    • World Language Education (AYA)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Miami University's World Language Education program awards a Bachelor of Science in Education and leads to PK-12 world language licensure in Ohio. Offered through the Department of Teaching, Curriculum, and Educational Inquiry within the College of Education, Health and Society, it provides language-specific tracks in Chinese, French, German, Latin, and Spanish. The on-campus Oxford program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Graduates of this foreign language teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. Its strongest card is completion: a 80% graduation rate lands it in the top 29% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 75% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $14,420 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  7. 7

    University of Vermont

    Burlington, VTPublic

    56score
    • 79%Grad rate
    • $16,280/yrIn-state tuition
    • $42,724/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 65%Admit rate
    • 12,276Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • 1365SAT mid
    • Secondary Education, B.S.Ed. (Foreign Language concentration)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Vermont's Secondary Education B.S.Ed. with a Foreign Language concentration, offered through the College of Education and Social Services, prepares candidates to teach grades 7-12 in French, German, Latin, or Spanish. Fieldwork moves through three phases and culminates in a full-time, semester-long student teaching internship alongside a teaching seminar. Graduates are recommended for Vermont licensure with a first endorsement in their content area. Classes are held on campus. A bachelor's-level path in foreign language teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Vermont.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 79% of students graduate, top 35% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 65% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $16,280 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  8. 8

    CUNY Queens College

    Queens, NYPublic

    51score
    • 53%Grad rate
    • $6,930/yrIn-state tuition
    • $14,880/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 64%Admit rate
    • 13,464Undergrads
    • 8Grads/yr
    • 1150SAT mid
    • Foreign Language Education (BA), e.g. French and Francophone Studies 7-12
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Queens College's Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language Education is built jointly by the department of European Languages and Literature and the Secondary Education and Youth Services program, and it leads to New York State teacher certification eligibility for grades 7-12. What stands out is the breadth of languages on offer, with world languages certification available in options such as Arabic, Chinese, French, and Spanish among many others. The representative French and Francophone Studies 7-12 track carries a 24-credit major, giving a sense of how the language study is scaled. Students typically move into the education portion as second-semester sophomores, once they have built a base in their chosen discipline. These are New York State-approved certification programs, delivered on campus. A bachelor's-level path in foreign language teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 53% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. A 64% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $6,930 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  9. 9

    Elmhurst University

    Elmhurst, ILPrivate nonprofit

    42score
    • 70%Grad rate
    • $42,495/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 74%Admit rate
    • 3,213Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • 1125SAT mid
    • World Language Education (Teaching Licensure)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Elmhurst University's World Language Education major leads to Illinois PK-12 teaching licensure and lets candidates specialize in French or Spanish. It is advised jointly by the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures and the School of Education, a partnership that keeps language depth and teaching preparation closely linked, and the School of Education holds program approval with the Illinois State Board of Education. Candidates build serious command of their target language, at least 18 semester hours for the endorsement, and just before student teaching they take a specialized methods course focused on foreign language teaching, offered only in the fall of odd years. They also clear a content-area test and an ACTFL oral proficiency interview. Students are encouraged to go further and pursue licensure in two languages. As a bachelor's degree in foreign language teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Illinois.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 70%, solid without being a standout. A 74% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $42,495 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  10. 10

    Temple University

    Philadelphia, PAPublic

    41score
    • 75%Grad rate
    • $21,989/yrIn-state tuition
    • $37,789/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 80%Admit rate
    • 21,457Undergrads
    • 4Grads/yr
    • B.S.Ed. Secondary Education / World Languages Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Aspiring language teachers who want genuine fluency will appreciate that Temple University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Secondary Education, World Languages Education asks students to complete a full second major in a language such as Chinese, French, Spanish, or Latin, on top of 36 education credits. Run by the College of Education and Human Development with the College of Liberal Arts, the program treats deep content mastery as inseparable from teaching skill. Fieldwork advances through classroom, after-school, and nonprofit assignments and a special education literacy practicum before a semester-long high school placement supervised by Temple faculty and a cooperating teacher. Study abroad and a five-year combined master's option are available for students who want to go further. Graduates earn a Pennsylvania Instructional I certificate as a K-12 world language teacher. Graduates of this foreign language teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 75%, solid without being a standout. A 80% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $21,989 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  11. 11

    University of Northern Iowa

    Cedar Falls, IAPublic

    40score
    • 68%Grad rate
    • $8,564/yrIn-state tuition
    • $20,340/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 93%Admit rate
    • 7,711Undergrads
    • 6Grads/yr
    • 1150SAT mid
    • Spanish - Teaching B.A.
    About the program

    Built for future Spanish teachers, the Spanish - Teaching B.A. at the University of Northern Iowa weaves a 33-hour Spanish major together with a professional education sequence inside the Department of Languages and Literatures. Language study and classroom preparation reinforce each other, so students move from advanced coursework into two teaching practicums and a Secondary School Teaching capstone that anchors the professional experience. Because fluency matters as much as pedagogy, candidates must earn a C-minus or higher in every Spanish course, and the program strongly encourages at least four weeks of study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, with a U.S. community immersion offered as an alternative. The full 120-hour degree leads to Iowa endorsement 134, qualifying graduates to teach Spanish in grades 5 through 12. Graduates of this foreign language teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 68%, solid without being a standout. Admission is close to open access at 93%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $8,564 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  12. 12

    Arkansas State University

    Jonesboro, ARPublic

    39score
    • 55%Grad rate
    • $7,488/yrIn-state tuition
    • $13,920/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 82%Admit rate
    • 9,985Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 1080SAT mid
    • World Languages and Cultures (BSE, French or Spanish emphasis)
    About the program

    Arkansas State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Education in World Languages and Cultures, taught through the Department of World Languages and Cultures in the College of Liberal Arts and Communication. Students pursue the degree with an emphasis in either French or Spanish, combining language and cultural study with teacher preparation coursework. The program prepares graduates to teach a world language in the classroom. As a bachelor's degree in foreign language teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Arkansas.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 55% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. A 82% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $7,488 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  13. 13

    Arkansas Tech University

    Russellville, ARPublic

    26score
    • 49%Grad rate
    • $5,995/yrIn-state tuition
    • $11,989/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 96%Admit rate
    • 8,145Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • 990SAT mid
    About the program

    At Arkansas Tech University, foreign language teacher education falls under the Department of English and World Languages. The department offers language study in French, German, Japanese, and Spanish, along with a Latin American and Latino studies option and a certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages. These offerings support students interested in language and language teaching at the bachelor's level in Russellville. Graduates of this foreign language teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 49% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. Admission is close to open access at 96%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $5,995 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  14. 14

    College of Staten Island CUNY

    Staten Island, NYPublic

    24score
    • 34%Grad rate
    • $6,930/yrIn-state tuition
    • $14,880/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 92%Admit rate
    • 10,051Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • 1070SAT mid
    • Spanish Grades 7-12 BA (Adolescence Education)
    About the program

    College of Staten Island offers a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish for grades 7 through 12, an adolescence education program for students preparing to teach Spanish at the middle and high school levels. The degree is coordinated across the departments of Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Studies, and World Languages and Literatures. Coursework combines Spanish language study with professional education courses, including the preparation required for New York State certification. Completing the program leads to New York State teacher certification. As a bachelor's degree in foreign language teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 34% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. Admission is close to open access at 92%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $6,930 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  15. 15

    University of Maine at Farmington

    Farmington, MEPublic

    21score
    • 52%Grad rate
    • $9,180/yrIn-state tuition
    • $21,750/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 97%Admit rate
    • 1,677Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • 1120SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in World Language Education (French or Spanish concentration)
    About the program

    The University of Maine at Farmington's Bachelor of Science in World Language Education offers French or Spanish concentrations and leads to K-12 licensure. The degree requires a minimum of 128 credits. Field experiences include EDU 379 Field Experience in World Language Education and EDU 480 Student Teaching and Seminar in World Language Education K-12 (16 credits); a criminal history record check and fingerprinting are required before the first practicum, and students must complete 80% of required coursework before student teaching. Admission standards include a minimum 2.750 cumulative GPA and a B- minimum in concentration and professional education courses. The program cites a shortage of certified world-language teachers in Maine. As a bachelor's degree in foreign language teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Maine.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 52% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. Admission is close to open access at 97%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $9,180 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  16. 16

    University of Southern Indiana

    Evansville, INPublic

    18score
    • 48%Grad rate
    • $9,036/yrIn-state tuition
    • $21,877/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 96%Admit rate
    • 7,600Undergrads
    • 5Grads/yr
    • 1135SAT mid
    • World Languages and Cultures Teaching Major (Spanish, French, or German concentration), B.A. / Secondary Education: Language Teaching
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Southern Indiana's World Languages and Cultures Teaching Major, a B.A. with concentrations in Spanish, French, or German, is designed so that language study and teacher preparation advance together. Coordinated between the World Languages and Cultures Department and the Teacher Education Department, the major pairs with a secondary education licensure minor to ready candidates for P-12 language teaching, and an elementary option combines a language minor with an early childhood, elementary, or special education major. Notably, no prior language knowledge is required to begin, and test-in credit can cover up to 12 credits for students who arrive with experience. More than 50 study abroad options give future teachers real immersion before they lead their own classrooms. Delivered on campus, the teaching majors are nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Earning a bachelor's degree in foreign language teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Indiana's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 48% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. Admission is close to open access at 96%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $9,036 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.

    Program page
How we rank

Each program is scored 0 to 100 against the other programs in its specialty: graduation rate (50%), selectivity by admission rate (30%), and affordability by in-state tuition (20%). Scores are percentile-based within the specialty, so they compare like with like. A program missing a field gets the neutral median for it, so it is neither rewarded nor punished. Earnings are intentionally excluded: federal per-school earnings are not yet published for education programs, and the field-level salary figure is identical for every school, so ranking on it would be meaningless. To keep the overall list from being dominated by a single state's public-university system, it shows at most 2 programs per state; the value, affordability, graduation-rate, and selectivity pages rank every program without that limit.

  • Graduation rate: 50%
  • Selectivity (admission rate): 30%
  • Affordability (in-state tuition): 20%

What careers can you get with a bachelor's in Foreign Language Teacher Education?

Graduates most often go on to work as secondary school teachers. Nationally, the median wage for that occupation is $72,040, with most earning between $48,780 and $107,600, and roughly 1,065,210 people employed across the United States, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Teachers of this subject are reported within this grade-level occupation; the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish a separate wage series for it.

Read the full guide on how to become a secondary school teacher, or see secondary school teachers pay by state →

$72,040Median annual wage
$48,780 to $107,60010th to 90th percentile
1,065,210Employed nationally

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 25-2031), and BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are national and not school-specific.

Secondary School Teachers Salary by State in 2026

Median annual wage for secondary school teachers, by state. Highest is Washington at $102,670, lowest is Oklahoma at $48,710.

StateMedian wage
Washington$102,670
California$101,370
New York$97,070
Massachusetts$95,260
Rhode Island$92,610
District of Columbia$82,750
New Jersey$82,200
Connecticut$80,970
Illinois$79,990
Alaska$79,650
Oregon$79,570
Ohio$78,800
Pennsylvania$78,800
Maryland$78,670
Delaware$77,960
New Hampshire$77,060
Minnesota$76,460
Utah$76,330
Vermont$76,220
New Mexico$75,900
Georgia$75,480
Hawaii$74,310
Colorado$72,900
Virginia$72,170
Michigan$66,030
Nevada$65,520
Maine$64,880
Texas$63,590
Nebraska$63,450
Wisconsin$62,870
Guam$62,860
Wyoming$62,690
South Carolina$62,580
Alabama$61,990
Indiana$61,880
Tennessee$61,860
Idaho$61,690
Kentucky$61,560
North Dakota$61,210
Iowa$61,200
Montana$60,990
Florida$60,410
Kansas$59,920
Louisiana$59,850
Arkansas$59,660
Virgin Islands$59,520
Missouri$59,240
Puerto Rico$59,100
Arizona$58,360
North Carolina$57,650
West Virginia$56,610
South Dakota$51,050
Mississippi$50,980
Oklahoma$48,710

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

How much a bachelor's in Foreign Language Teacher Education program costs

Published in-state tuition across the 18 ranked bachelor's programs typically runs from $5,995 to $42,495 a year, with a median near $10,525. Most of that spread is public versus private: public universities charge state residents the least, while private colleges set a single sticker price that applies to everyone. 16 of the 18 programs here are public, which is usually where the lowest in-state numbers come from.

Sticker price is rarely what a student pays. Grants and scholarships lower the net cost, and future teachers have aid written specifically for them: the federal TEACH Grant provides up to $4,000 a year to students who agree to teach a high-need subject in a low-income school, and many states add service scholarships and loan-forgiveness programs for people who commit to the classroom. Two costs to watch are out-of-state tuition, which at public schools often runs two to three times the resident rate, and mandatory fees and living expenses, which the tuition figure leaves out entirely.

What none of this changes is the paycheck at the end. The median wage for secondary school teachers is $72,040 regardless of where the degree was earned, so two graduates can reach the same salary having paid very different tuition to get there. That is exactly why affordability, essentially graduation rate per tuition dollar, is one of the factors we weight rather than an afterthought.

Sources: tuition and program data from IPEDS; the TEACH Grant from Federal Student Aid; wages from BLS OEWS.

How to get licensed to teach with a bachelor's in Foreign Language Teacher Education

A bachelor's in Foreign Language Teacher Education program prepares you academically, but teaching in a public school also requires a license issued by the state where you work. Every state runs its own credential, yet the path rhymes almost everywhere. You complete a state-approved preparation program, log supervised field experience that builds to a full term of student teaching, and pass one or more licensure exams, then apply to the state with a background check and, in most places, complete a mentored first year before the license becomes fully clear and renewable.

The exams are where states differ most. 37 of the 52 US jurisdictions use ETS's Praxis series to test basic skills and subject knowledge; the rest run their own, such as California's CBEST and CSET or New York's NYSTCE. A growing number also require a performance assessment like edTPA, in which candidates submit video and written evidence from their own student teaching. The grade-band and subject endorsements on your license, elementary versus a specific secondary subject, are set by the tests you pass and the program you complete.

Because the specifics are decided state by state, where you plan to teach matters as much as where you study. Licenses do not transfer automatically, though most states honor an out-of-state credential through interstate reciprocity, usually with some added coursework or testing. Check your target state's department of education for its exact requirements before you enroll.

Sources: licensure requirements from each state's department of education; the Praxis series from ETS; edTPA; programmatic standards from CAEP.

How does accreditation work in 2026 for a bachelor's in Foreign Language Teacher Education?

Two different things get called accreditation, and only one of them gets you licensed. Institutional accreditation comes first: a regional accreditor such as SACSCOC, the Higher Learning Commission, or the Middle States Commission reviews the whole university, and it is what lets credits transfer and federal financial aid flow. Any college worth considering has it, but on its own it says nothing specific about the quality of the education program.

Program, or programmatic, accreditation is the education-specific layer. The national accreditor is CAEP, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, formed in 2013 when the two older bodies, NCATE and TEAC, merged; AAQEP is a newer alternative that a growing number of programs have adopted. A CAEP or AAQEP seal signals that the preparation program has been reviewed against national standards for clinical practice, content knowledge, and candidate outcomes.

The credential that actually licenses you, though, is state program approval. A state only allows its approved programs to recommend graduates for certification, so approval, not a national seal, is what turns your degree into a license, and it is also what makes interstate reciprocity possible. Plenty of strong programs carry state approval without a separate national accreditor, which is common and not a red flag. When you compare options, confirm two things: that the school is regionally accredited, and that the specific program is approved by the state where you intend to teach.

Programmatic accreditor: CAEP. State approval is granted by each state's department of education.

Ways to earn your bachelor's in Foreign Language Teacher Education

A traditional four-year, on-campus bachelor's is the most common route into teaching, and for good reason: the degree leans on in-person field placements that build to a full term of student teaching. Most programs here are delivered on campus for exactly that reason.

You do not have to start at a four-year school. Many students spend their first two years at a community college, earn an associate's, and transfer in, which trims the cost of the early coursework, and statewide articulation agreements often guarantee the credits apply. If you already hold a bachelor's in another field, you can usually skip a second degree entirely and enter through an alternative-certification program or a master's-with-licensure route built for career-changers.

Whatever the format, the non-negotiable is supervised clinical practice. Every licensure-track program includes a student-teaching placement, and some now pair it with a paid, year-long residency alongside a mentor teacher, an increasingly common model that eases the unpaid-semester crunch traditional student teaching can create.

Sources: online and program counts from IPEDS; alternative-certification pathways per the US Department of Education.

How to become a foreign language teacher

The path runs from a bachelor's degree through a state license, with details that vary by state.

  1. 1

    Earn a bachelor's degree

    Complete a four-year degree in foreign language teacher education, or in the language itself paired with a teaching credential. You will build advanced proficiency in your target language alongside coursework in second-language acquisition and teaching methods.

  2. 2

    Complete a state-approved preparation program

    Finish an approved educator preparation program that includes supervised student teaching in a real language classroom. Many programs are accredited by CAEP, but state program approval is what actually authorizes you for licensure.

  3. 3

    Pass the required licensure exams

    Sit for the exams your state requires, which usually include a general teaching test and a subject test in your language, such as a Praxis world languages exam or a state oral proficiency assessment.

  4. 4

    Apply for your state license

    Submit your license application with transcripts, exam scores, and a background check. Requirements differ from state to state, so confirm the specifics with your state education agency.

  5. 5

    Complete a mentored first year

    Many states pair new teachers with a mentor and issue an initial or provisional license that converts to a full one after a supervised induction period. Ongoing professional development keeps the credential current.

Requirements summarized from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and each state's department of education. Exact requirements vary by state.

Frequently asked questions about a Bachelor's in Foreign Language Teacher Education

Do you need a bachelor's in foreign language education to teach a foreign language?

You need a bachelor's degree to teach a foreign language, either in foreign language teacher education or in the language paired with a state-approved teaching program. The degree must connect to an initial teaching license for you to work in a public school.

How long does a bachelor's in foreign language education take to become a foreign language teacher?

Becoming a foreign language teacher takes about four years for most students, including student teaching. Study abroad or an immersion semester can add time but often strengthens the language proficiency states expect.

What do foreign language teachers earn with a bachelor's in foreign language education in 2026?

Foreign language teachers earn pay that depends on the school, district, and your experience. The BLS reports a median wage of $72,040 for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, which is the category most high school language teachers fall under.

Do you need a teaching license with a bachelor's in foreign language education?

Yes, you need a teaching license, since public schools require a state teaching license in the world language you plan to teach. Licensure typically means completing an approved preparation program with student teaching and passing subject and pedagogy exams, and the exact steps vary by state.

Can you earn a bachelor's in foreign language education online?

You can earn some of a bachelor's in foreign language teacher education online, but the language proficiency and student teaching components usually require in-person or closely supervised experience. If you want an online option, confirm that the program leads to licensure in your state before enrolling.

Is a bachelor's in foreign language education worth it?

A foreign language teaching degree is worth it because world language teachers are in steady demand and some regions treat the field as a shortage area, which can help with hiring. The same language skills can also open doors in translation, international business, or curriculum work if you later move beyond the classroom.

Answers draw on IPEDS, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, and each state's department of education.

Data sources for our Bachelor's in Foreign Language Teacher Education ranking

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