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Interpreter and translator education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an interpreter and translator. Interpreter and translators usually study english, business, or linguistics. 55% of interpreter and translators hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 15,376 real interpreter and translator resumes to see exactly what interpreter and translator education sections show.
The most common colleges for interpreter and translators are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online interpreter and translator courses to help get the education required to be an interpreter and translator.
There are certain interpreter and translator certifications that you should consider. These interpreter and translator certifications include Certified Translator and Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI).
What education do you need to become an interpreter and translator?
What degree do you need to be an interpreter and translator?
- Bachelor's, 55%
- Master's, 15%
- Associate, 13%
- High School Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 9%
What should I major in to become an interpreter and translator?
- English, 22%
- Business, 16%
- Linguistics, 12%
- Other Majors, 45%
Most common colleges for interpreter and translators
| Interpreter and translator common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 10.03% |
| National University | 7.53% |
| George Mason University | 7.53% |
| American University | 6.86% |
| Brigham Young University | 6.52% |
Best majors for interpreter and translators
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | 21.5% |
| 2 | Business | 16.3% |
| 3 | Linguistics | 12.0% |
| 4 | Political Science | 5.2% |
| 5 | Psychology | 4.1% |
Best colleges for interpreter and translators
The best colleges for interpreter and translators are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
An interpreter and translator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for interpreter and translators. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become interpreter and translators.
1. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
2. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
4. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
7. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$54,104
Enrollment
7,089
8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
9. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
10. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
20 best online courses for interpreter and translators
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Top 10 most affordable universities for interpreter and translators
The most affordable schools for interpreter and translators are Hunter College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and baruch college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for interpreter and translators are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for interpreter and translators.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
4. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
5. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
6. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
7. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
8. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
9. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
10. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for interpreter and translators
The hardest universities for interpreter and translators to get into are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for interpreter and translators are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for interpreter and translators based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
6. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,520
7. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
8. Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,488
9. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,456
10. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for interpreter and translators
The easiest schools for interpreter and translators to get into are D'Youville College, holy names university, and san francisco state university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an interpreter and translator without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for interpreter and translators.
1. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
2. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
3. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
4. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
5. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
6. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
7. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
8. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
9. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
10. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
Average interpreter and translator salary by education level
| Interpreter and translator education level | Interpreter and translator salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $50,332 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $41,598 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $46,277 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $46,029 |
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025