What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for American Sign Language
American Sign Language is tracked across 133 U.S. postsecondary institutions in the College Scorecard field-of-study file, which links CIP code classifications from IPEDS to Treasury earnings records. This profile covers the associate's credential level specifically, because the Department of Education reports program-level outcomes separately for associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards. The CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) taxonomy lets analysts roll up specialties into broader families, which is why earnings medians across schools can be compared on a common basis.
Across all reporting institutions, the mean of school-level medians is $30,457, calculated from 13 schools with published earnings data. The earnings distribution stretches from $9,167 at the low end to $47,106 at the top, with a 25th-75th percentile band between $23,869 and $39,402 around a median of $26,585. The top-reporting institution in this program is Saint Louis Community College at $47,106. These numbers reflect earnings measured roughly a year after completion, using Social Security Administration tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants.
Variation across schools matters more than a single national figure. Completers counts reported per school indicate how many graduates’ earnings feed the median, which means small programs produce more volatile numbers. Median debt at the program level, when paired with earnings, yields a debt-to-earnings ratio that is the College Scorecard’s standard affordability signal — ratios under 1.0 indicate earnings exceed cumulative debt. Use the school-by-school table to spot institutions where American Sign Language graduates out-earn peers at comparable cost, and to surface gainful-employment patterns that only become visible at the CIP-code level.
Lansing Community College accounts for 12.9% of all American Sign Language associate's credential graduates
That concentration — well above the 5% national median for largest-entity share — means American Sign Language-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. That school produced 21 graduates in the most recent cohort, anchoring a meaningful slice of national supply for this field. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.
American Sign Language associate's credential median earnings varies 5.1× across entities
American Sign Language associate's credential median earnings ranges from $9,167 (lowest) to $47,106 (highest), a spread of $37,939. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme earnings stratification across institutions — graduates of the same field can earn dramatically different starting salaries depending on the school’s reputation, regional employer mix, and selectivity. Earnings are measured roughly one year after completion using IRS records linked to federal aid recipients (see https://www.irs.gov/) — not all completers are captured, but the school-level medians correlate strongly with longer-term earnings trajectories.
How much do American Sign Language graduates earn? ▼
American Sign Language graduates earn $30,457 on average across 133 schools. Earnings range from $9,167 to $47,106 depending on the institution.
Which school pays the most for American Sign Language? ▼
Saint Louis Community College has the highest reported median earnings for American Sign Language graduates at $47,106, based on College Scorecard data.
What credential do you get in American Sign Language? ▼
American Sign Language programs typically award a Associate's credential. Earnings vary by school and credential level.
Top Schools for American Sign Language
Closest schools offering this program — compare earnings side by side
Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Median earnings represent graduates who received federal financial aid, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal student aid applicants. Completers count and debt figures reflect program-level data reported through IPEDS. Data is updated annually.