American Sign Language
Quick Facts: American Sign Language Training
Where it's offered
American Sign Language programs are offered at 3 schools across 3 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $29,286/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
There are no Department of Labor registered apprenticeship pathways currently mapped to American Sign Language, but related trades may have programs — check apprenticeship.gov directly.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 3 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 36/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What American Sign Language Graduates Do
Your fluency in American Sign Language opens doors to dynamic, people-focused careers. As an interpreter, you’ll bridge communication gaps in critical settings—one day in a hospital helping a doctor explain a diagnosis, the next in a business meeting ensuring a Deaf employee can participate fully. As a teacher, you might find yourself in a high school classroom, introducing a new generation to ASL, or at a college, training future interpreters.
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Your career will likely begin with entry-level assignments or an assistantship. With experience and certification, you can become a sought-after freelance interpreter or a lead teacher. Top earners often specialize in complex fields like legal interpreting or become tenured postsecondary educators. While demand is growing in some areas, automated translation tools are changing the landscape, particularly for interpreters. AI can handle simple transcription, but it cannot replicate the cultural nuance, empathy, and split-second judgment required in high-stakes human interactions. Successful professionals now leverage technology for prep work, focusing their unique skills on the complex, in-person communication that remains irreplaceable.
Students considering American Sign Language also weigh Romance Languages, Linguistics, and Ethnic & Cultural Studies — see each trade's earnings and school count side by side.
Find American Sign Language Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. American Sign Language is offered at 3 schools across 3 states. Click your state to see all trade programs offered locally.
Top American Sign Language Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring American Sign Language programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
3 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX |
66 62–68 |
| 2 | Oakland Community College Auburn Hills, MI |
47 45–50 |
| 3 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA |
31 27–34 |
Highest Earning American Sign Language Programs
Schools where American Sign Language graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Austin Community College District | $38,995/yr | 66 |
| Oakland Community College | $28,103/yr | 47 |
| Temple University | $20,761/yr | 31 |
Best ROI for American Sign Language
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for American Sign Language.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Community College District | 135.9x | $38,995/yr | 66 |
| Oakland Community College | 45.5x | $28,103/yr | 47 |
| Temple University | 8.4x | $20,761/yr | 31 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how American Sign Language degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.