Last Updated on October 1, 2026
Quick answer: Foreign language requirements for college vary, but most selective schools require or recommend two to four years of language study, and many top schools recommend three or four years of the same language. Taking a language through the highest level your school offers shows commitment. If options are limited, online or community college courses help.
When picking your high school classes, plan accordingly, since a solid academic foundation matters in every part of your application. Whether you opt for the popular choices of French or Spanish, or the slightly less conventional route of Chinese or German, aim to pick a language that interests you and stick with it for at least two years. To help you navigate foreign language requirements, I’ve outlined the expectations at different universities and liberal arts colleges, detailed how admissions officers view this component, and finally offered tips to help you find ways to fulfill the requirement if it’s not easily available to you.
Foreign Language Requirements for College at Top Schools
Not all schools expect students to have the same number of years of studying a foreign language. Some require or recommend two years; others ask for three. Many schools recommend that you actually commit to the component for all four years of high school. Some schools such as Wesleyan University and Wellesley College allow you to use your AP foreign language scores for college credit or for placing you into a higher level college language class.
Note that you should be pursuing the same language throughout high school. Don’t take one year of Spanish, then another year of French (unless you really love languages, in which case you could add a second). But make sure you still have those continued years for one second language. The following table lists foreign language requirements and recommendations at 28 national universities and liberal arts colleges, checked against each school’s admissions website, in alphabetical order.
Table Key
Number of Years Required: This number indicates the number of years that you have to take a language besides English during your time in high school in order to gain acceptance at the university.
Number of Years Recommended: This indicates the number of years you should aim to take foreign language classes in order to boost your application. You should target this unless absolutely impossible.
| School | Years Required (as posted, September 2026) | Years Recommended (as posted, September 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Amherst College | None stated | 4 (typical of successful applicants) |
| Boston College | None stated | 4 (typical of competitive applicants) |
| Carleton College | 2 | 3 or more |
| Columbia University | None stated | 3–4 (Columbia College); 2–3 (Columbia Engineering) |
| Dartmouth College | None stated | 3 (4 preferred) |
| Duke University | None stated | 3 or more |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | 2 (American Sign Language or computer science may count) | None stated |
| Harvard University | None stated | 4 |
| New York University | None stated | 3–4 |
| Northwestern University | 2 (most undergraduate schools) | None stated |
| Princeton University | None stated | 4 |
| Purdue University | 2 | None stated |
| Rice University | 2 | None stated |
| Stanford University | None stated | 3 or more of the same language |
| Tufts University | None stated | 4 |
| University of California (all campuses) | 2 | 3 |
| University of Florida | 2 (sequential) | None stated |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 2 | 4 |
| University of Michigan | 2 of the same language | 4 (College of LSA) |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | None stated | 2 sequential courses |
| University of Notre Dame | 2 | 3–4 |
| University of Pennsylvania | None stated | 4 |
| University of Texas at Austin | 2 (American Sign Language or computer science may count) | None stated |
| University of Washington | 2 of the same language | None stated |
| University of Wisconsin–Madison | None stated | 2 of the same language |
| Vanderbilt University | None stated | 2 |
| Williams College | None stated | 4 |
| Yale University | None stated | 4 (a course each year) |
School-Specific Foreign Language Requirements
As you can see, most top schools at least recommend that you pursue a language outside English for two years or more – schools such as NYU, Tufts, and Pomona require three. As you start thinking about your college list, you can check out the websites of each college to view the specific requirements. Below are some examples of the way that different schools frame their foreign language requirements:
| School | Foreign Language Policy (as posted, September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Carleton College | Carleton asks for “two or more years of a foreign or classical language” and expects three or more from its most competitive applicants, unless a language is not offered at the student’s school. |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | “Foreign Language or American Sign Language or Computer Science – 2 Units” |
| Harvard University | Harvard recommends “four years of a single foreign language.” |
| Stanford University | “World Language: minimum three years of the same language.” |
| University of California schools | “Two years, or equivalent to the 2nd level of high school instruction, of the same language other than English are required. A third year of course work is recommended.” Courses taken in seventh and eighth grade may count if the high school accepts them as equivalent. [1] |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Language other than English: “2 years required, 4 years recommended.” Completion through the second level of any one language other than English; American Sign Language is acceptable. |
| University of Michigan | College of Literature, Science, and the Arts applicants need “two years of the same world language” for admission (American Sign Language included), and four years of language study are encouraged. [2] |
| Williams College | “Competitive first-year candidates typically study English, math, natural science, foreign language and social studies in four-year sequences.” [3] |
Understanding the instructions for each of these colleges is quite straightforward. Carefully note the wording. When a school like Harvard or Williams recommends or prefers more years, you should try your best to meet that number unless there’s an extenuating circumstance that prevents it. Colleges want to make sure you’re ready for their distribution requirements, so don’t take this component lightly!
How Foreign Language Requirements Are Viewed in the Admissions Office
You might wonder how strict foreign language requirements are and whether they’re necessary, especially if they are recommended, as opposed to required. A lot of students don’t pay attention to the importance of taking a second language as much as they prioritize getting the math and English components each year. But, it’s still important and should not be overlooked. According to Zak, a Johns Hopkins and Bowdoin Former Admissions Officer at InGenius Prep, they are definitely seen as part of the core classes needed to qualify for admission. He adds, “Most schools want at least two years and some even three. For our students, especially those looking at top schools, I push for 4 years if it’s possible, and the student is good enough in the language.”
Admissions officers also take into account the type of high school that you attend. Some will waive the language requirement for applicants who are already fluent in another language. Zak adds that the strictness will depend on the college and the student’s specific circumstances, such as background and the rigor of the rest of their curriculum.
Multiple years of experience in a second language will absolutely improve your application. Zak believes that just like the rest of your classes, your foreign language requirement needs to be a priority. Not having sufficient second language classes may put you out of the running for a spot in the accepted pile at a college where it’s recommended or required.
If You’re Unable to Take Foreign Language Classes
So, what do you do if your school doesn’t offer proper foreign language courses or if learning a new language isn’t one of your specialties? If your issue is the former, you can try and check with a local community college and see if there is a foreign language class that works with your schedule. Or, you can take an online class, which can be a productive use of the summer before senior year. You may even self-study for an AP language exam. All of these would show initiative on your part, and admissions officers would appreciate you going out of your way to make sure you have fulfilled the foreign language requirements.
Schools That Don’t Require Foreign Languages
Another alternative to taking foreign language classes, regardless of whether they’re not as widely available in your school or you wish to fill your schedule with other courses you prefer, is to apply primarily to colleges that don’t ask applicants to meet this requirement. Schools in the table above that only recommend language classes are a good place to start, but the safest bet in this case could be choosing a school which doesn’t have foreign language requirement or suggestion at all. Some of these include:
- Babson College
- California Institute of Technology
- Colorado College
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Pepperdine University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- University of Rochester
Some undergraduate colleges within the umbrella of large universities may not have foreign language requirements either. For example, if you’re applying to the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, you don’t need to have taken a French, Spanish, or Chinese class. But if you’re hoping to be admitted to the College of Literature, Sciences, and Arts, you must take at least two years of the same foreign language. [2]
Long story short, foreign language requirements definitely matter for college applications, and should be considered seriously. If you want to attend a top school, in order to make sure that you don’t fall behind the most competitive candidates, you should commit to taking at least two years of the language of your choice. When in doubt, always look through college websites and check the individual protocols to make sure you are prepared for the schools that interest you most. Good luck!
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