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Translator Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a translator. Translators usually study english, linguistics, or business. 60% of translators hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 15,450 real translator resumes to see exactly what translator education sections show.
The most common colleges for translators are the New York University and the New York University.
There are also many online translator courses to help get the education required to be a translator.
There are certain translator certifications that you should consider. These translator certifications include Certified Translator and Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).
What education do you need to become a translator?
What degree do you need to be a translator?
- Bachelor's, 60%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 9%
- High School Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 9%
What should I major in to become a translator?
- English, 21%
- Linguistics, 12%
- Business, 12%
- Psychology, 5%
- Other Majors, 50%
Most common colleges for translators
Translator Common College  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| New York University | 9.23% |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | 8.34% |
| University of California - Davis | 8.22% |
| National University | 7.33% |
| Brigham Young University | 5.69% |
Best majors for translators
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | 21.0% |
| 2 | Linguistics | 12.0% |
| 3 | Business | 11.8% |
| 4 | Psychology | 5.1% |
| 5 | Political Science | 4.9% |
Best colleges for translators
The best colleges for translators are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A 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 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 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
20 best online courses for translators
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Top 10 most affordable universities for translators
The most affordable schools for 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 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 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
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5. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,210
Cost of Attendance
14,359
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for translators
The hardest universities for translators to get into are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for 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 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
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for translators
The easiest schools for 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 a 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 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
Average translator salary by education level
| Translator education level | Translator salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $50,785 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $41,990 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $46,702 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $46,453 |
Translator Education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025