Best Online Master’s in Translation

Best Online Master's in Translation

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If you are bilingual and excel in converting one language into another, an online master’s in translation can elevate your career. 

Best Online Master's in Translation

If you’re fluent in more than one language and understand the implications of converting information from one language into another, then you can expand your career opportunities with advanced education in translation. Look through the list of universities below to find the right one to deliver a unique master’s instruction that will most benefit your career. Evaluate the information to see if an online master’s in translation is right for you, so you can broaden or advance your multilingual career.

Online Schools Report is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

What Is an Online Master’s in Translation?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the vocations of interpreters and translators to grow by about 18% between 2016 and 2026. As the demand grows for talented professionals with fluent language translation and communication skills, boosting those skills increases your ability to compete in the field. A master’s in translation offers existing professionals and bachelor’s degree holders an opportunity to learn and practice interpreting and translating skills in today’s global workplace and engage global economies. Master’s programs can advance the skills and opportunities of existing professionals, offer expanded networking prospects for emerging translators, and help employees leverage their multilingual skills for their business. 

How Much Can You Earn With an Online Master’s in Translation?

Although earnings in translation and interpreting vary based on experience, skills, and education, a master’s in translation will open doors in the private, public, and even government sectors. Translation and interpreting professionals in the scientific and technical services reported wages in 2019 from the BLS at about $61,310 annually. However, it was also reported that interpreters and translators in colleges, universities, and professional schools saw wages at about $75,400 annually. Meanwhile, translation and interpreter jobs in the government sector reported earnings in the highest bracket, at about $83,300 annually.

What Is Required For an Online Master’s in Translation?

To apply for an online master’s in translation, candidates first need fluent multilingual skills and an undergraduate degree in a related field. Working professionally as a translator will make your application more attractive, however, that employment is not required. Additional helpful experience for applicants is to have lived in a foreign country or professionally interacted with foreign cultures. Credit hour requirements vary between programs but are usually flexible, so be sure to consult with each program to determine the number of core and elective courses it demands as well as any timeframe it places on degree completion.

What Are the Best Online Master’s in Translation?

OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program-specific. For school-wide, OSR uses Student Satisfaction, Admission Rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program-specific, OSR checks the Median Debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.

The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Quick Facts

  • Total of 36 credit hours 
  • Medical, legal, financial, and literary interpreting specialties  
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 required 
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

79%

Acceptance Rate

80%

Programs Offered Online

Not reported

Median Debt

$10,054

Programs in Department

1

Popularity at School

2%

100%OSR Score

You can earn your master’s in Spanish translation and interpreting from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley fully online. This program requires a graduate degree in a similar or related field. Students study consecutive and simultaneous interpreting and current translation technologies, and additional coursework in translation project management, theory, and research is available.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Quick Facts

  • Focuses in literary, conference and community, and professions translating 
  • Seven core language study choices
  • Individual project required for completion 
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

74%

Acceptance Rate

62%

Programs Offered Online

1

Median Debt

$20,127

Programs in Department

1

Popularity at School

1%

91%OSR Score

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers students an online master’s program in translation and interpreting that is completely online. The program offers students seven language focuses to choose from, plus additional support in Japanese, Mandarin, Czech, Catalan, English +, and Basque. Core coursework includes commercial and technical translation, terminology and computer skills, as well as ethical and epistemological practices in translation.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Quick Facts

  • Specializes in translation for library and research professionals 
  • Dual-degree program formatting
  • Total of 51 credit hours
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

74%

Acceptance Rate

72%

Programs Offered Online

4

Median Debt

$24,348

Programs Offered Online

Not reported

Popularity at School

1%

81%OSR Score

If you’re looking to expand your professional interpreting or translating skills, the Online University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee master’s program might be worth investigating. Students can choose from language specialties in Russian, English, Spanish, French, or German. This program awards students simultaneous degrees in the two languages of their focus. A comprehensive exam is given at the end of the program’s coursework, and a GPA of 3.0 or higher is required for graduation.

Kent State University at Kent

Quick Facts

  • Undergraduate degree in a related field required
  • Three- to six-year duration based on hours per quarter 
  • Total of 36 credit hours required
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

74%

Acceptance Rate

88%

Programs Offered Online

9

Median Debt

$25,247

Programs Offered Online

Not reported

Popularity at School

1%

65%OSR Score

Students in Kent State University’s master’s in translation can choose from Arabic, French, Russian, Japanese, German, English, or Spanish language focuses. Program coursework will include hands-on practice in the areas of project management, editing, and intercultural communication in the language industry, to name only a few. This practical training is ideal for students wanting to specialize in the fields of medicine, law, or technology.

Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

Quick Facts

  • Total of 32 semester credits for completion 
  • Annual career fair with tech companies
  • Two-year, part-time program
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

75%

Programs Offered Online

Not reported

Median Debt

$13,625

Programs Offered Online

Not reported

Popularity at School

0%

64%OSR Score

Middlebury Institute of International Studies’ online master’s in translation and localization program is designed to train students to adapt content to a service, product, or idea in the specific language and culture of the market they are targeting. Students will learn project management; business management; and the localization of software, video games, websites, desktop publishing, content management systems, and audio-visual formats.

Online Schools Report is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.