This snapshot is built from CollegeWhale’s own scholarship database and planning tools. It shows how many awards are available for Foreign Language majors, how much money is on the table, and what early-career pay and typical college costs can look like.
We currently have 113 Foreign Language scholarships available in our database. These awards may come from professional associations, nonprofit organizations, and private sponsors. We’re actively adding scholarships tied to Foreign Language. Check back often or use our main scholarship search to uncover more awards that fit your profile.
Across these listings, the total advertised award value comes to roughly $157,000. Many scholarships for this major list flexible or renewable award amounts. As we continue to add additional Foreign Language scholarships, this section will show an estimate of the total dollars currently available in our database.
Graduates with a Foreign Language degree commonly see early-career median pay around $60,000 per year, depending on location, employer type, and experience.
Foreign Language ROI Snapshot:
We estimate a typical 4-year net cost of college at about
$108,584.
First-year median earnings are roughly 55% of that total cost. At that pace, it would take about 1.8 years of early-career earnings to “earn back” your degree investment (before taxes and living costs).
The average cost of in-of-state college in the United States is $27,146 per student per year, including books, supplies, and daily living expenses. Out-of-state students pay $45,708 per year. Private, nonprofit university students pay $58,628. According to data provided by educationdata.org as of 8/2025. Our ROI calculation is based on in-state average tuition. Median pay statistics are provided by bls.gov
The CollegeWhale Scholarship FastFind™ makes it easy to discover the best Foreign Language scholarships — fast. Filter by award amount, deadline month, and estimated time to apply, then instantly download your personalized list. No sign-ups, no personal info, no spam — just real, verified scholarships.
The Linguistic Society of America (LSA) Student Fellowship and Travel Awards provide financial support to undergraduate and graduate students who are actively involved in linguistic study and research. These awards are designed to help promising students attend conferences, present research,
Award: Varies Deadline: November Est. Time: Med (~48 min)
The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship – Linguistics and Language Track is designed for students who are committed to international service and who possess strong interests in global languages, linguistics, and cross-cultural communication. This prestigious fellowship helps prepare future
Award: $40,000 Deadline: September Est. Time: Med (~78 min)
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Scholarships support students, educators, and emerging language professionals who are pursuing studies in world languages, language education, and cultural immersion. ACTFL offers multiple scholarship programs designed to strengthen language proficiency,
Award: Varies Deadline: February Est. Time: Med (~78 min)
The Boren Awards, offered through the National Security Education Program (NSEP), provide substantial funding for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who wish to study less commonly taught languages that are critical to U.S. national security. These awards support immersive language
Award: $8,000 Deadline: January Est. Time: Med (~48 min)
The Phi Sigma Iota Foreign Language and Linguistics Scholarship is offered by Phi Sigma Iota, the international honor society for students of foreign languages, linguistics and literature. This scholarship supports outstanding undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate a strong commitment
Award: Varies Deadline: February Est. Time: Med (~78 min)
The Corinne Jeannine Schillings Foundation honors the memory of Corinne Schillings by awarding scholarships to young women who have achieved the Girl Scouts of the USA Silver or Gold Award. The program promotes the study of languages and global awareness
Award: $1,500 Deadline: March Est. Time: Med (~78 min)
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program empowers students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad. Administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) since 2001, the Gilman Program helps undergraduates acquire the international
Award: $5,000 Deadline: March Est. Time: Low (~28 min)
Phi Sigma Iota, the International Foreign Language Honor Society, offers a competitive scholarship program designed to support undergraduate and graduate students dedicated to the study of languages, literatures, and cultures. With chapters at more than 180 institutions around the world,
Award: $500 Deadline: March Est. Time: Med (~78 min)
The Corinne Jeannine Schillings Foundation was established in memory of Corinne Schillings, who tragically lost her life in a 2004 Baltimore Harbor water taxi accident. Corinne was passionate about languages, travel, and cultural exploration. To honor her legacy, the Foundation
Award: $1,500 Deadline: March Est. Time: Med (~48 min)
The Boren Scholarships, administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) on behalf of the National Security Education Program (NSEP), fund U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in regions of the world critical to U.S. interests. These
Award: $25,000 Deadline: January Est. Time: Med (~48 min)
Name: Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program Award Amount: Up to $42,000 annually for a two-year period, covering...
Award: $42,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Time: Med (~78 min)
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is one of the most prestigious international educational exchange programs in the world. Funded by the U.S. government and administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE), it provides grants for graduating college seniors, recent
Award: Varies Deadline: October Est. Time: Med (~78 min)This comprehensive collection of Foreign Language scholarships and grants for the 2026 - 2027 school years, curated from our regularly updated databases. To explore all available scholarship matches, visit our Scholarship Database and Grant Database, which both offer easy-to-use filters, current deadlines, and detailed eligibility information to help you discover the best Foreign Language scholarship opportunities.
Students pursuing degrees in foreign languages, linguistics, translation, or international communication can access a wide range of scholarships and grants. These awards—offered by universities, cultural foundations, and government programs—help fund language immersion, study abroad, and research opportunities. Whether you’re passionate about diplomacy, teaching, or global business, language scholarships make it easier to turn linguistic talent into a meaningful career.
Tip: Many language scholarships value both academic excellence and cultural engagement, so emphasize international experiences, volunteer work, or cultural exchange participation in your application.
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a prestigious, fully funded summer program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. It helps students rapidly advance their proficiency in high-priority languages while gaining cultural immersion abroad.
This program is highly competitive and ideal for students planning careers in diplomacy, education, or international relations.
The Boren Scholarship supports students studying less commonly taught languages and cultures vital to U.S. national security and global cooperation.
This scholarship is best suited for students interested in government, security studies, or international development careers.
Yes, several programs support high school students who demonstrate an early interest in global languages and cultures.
Tip: Participation in language clubs, Model UN, or exchange programs can make high school applicants stand out for these scholarships.
The FLAS Fellowship—funded by the U.S. Department of Education—supports undergraduate and graduate students studying foreign languages and regional studies.
This fellowship is ideal for students pursuing careers in academia, international research, or government service.
Yes, many study abroad scholarships focus on helping students enhance language proficiency and cultural literacy through immersive experiences.
These scholarships enable students to gain firsthand experience in their target languages while strengthening global perspectives.
The MLA Scholarship recognizes graduate students dedicated to the study of languages, linguistics, or comparative literature.
This scholarship is especially valuable for students pursuing teaching, translation, or academic research careers.
Yes, several scholarships honor and support students fluent in a heritage or ancestral language, encouraging cultural preservation and continued learning.
Tip: If you speak a heritage language, highlight how it has shaped your academic goals and connection to cultural identity.
Many universities offer scholarships to students demonstrating excellence in language study and international engagement.
Check your university’s department of languages or international studies office for local and program-specific funding options.
When applying for language scholarships, focus on demonstrating both linguistic dedication and cross-cultural awareness. Here’s how to strengthen your application:
Fact: While programs in Spanish, French, and Chinese are popular, many scholarships prioritize less commonly taught languages such as Swahili, Tagalog, Pashto, or Finnish. Studying a critical or underrepresented language can actually improve your eligibility and open doors to unique career opportunities in government, translation, and global development.
Reviewed by CollegeWhale Editorial Team on November, 2025. Content is updated regularly to reflect current scholarship deadlines and verified data from official sources.
Quickly navigate to some of our most popular scholarships, such as state-specific scholarships, major-specific scholarships, and other popular categories. Please search our Scholarship Database to get matched with many more scholarships specific to your personal criteria.