Foreign Language Enrollment in Freefall at US Colleges: ACTA Report Reveals 17% Drop Since 2016 Amid Long-Term Decline

📊 Unpacking the Latest ACTA Report on Foreign Language Declines

A recent report from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), titled Ivory Tower of Babel, has spotlighted a troubling trend in American higher education: foreign language enrollments are in freefall. According to the analysis, which draws on data from the Modern Language Association (MLA), enrollments in languages other than English plummeted by 17 percent between 2016 and 2021 alone. This sharp drop is part of a broader 59 percent decline over the past 51 years, signaling a long-term erosion of language study at U.S. colleges and universities.

To put this in perspective, the MLA's comprehensive census of fall 2021 enrollments recorded 1,182,562 students taking courses in languages other than English, down from 1,418,584 in 2016. While overall postsecondary enrollment dipped by about 8 percent during the same period, language courses suffered disproportionately, falling to levels not seen since 1998. This isn't just a numbers game; it reflects shifting priorities in academia, where financial pressures and changing student interests are reshaping curricula.

The ACTA report emphasizes that only 11 percent of U.S. institutions now require foreign language study at an intermediate or higher level, a stark contrast to historical norms. With nearly 80 percent of Americans speaking only English—compared to just 25 percent of adults in the European Union who are monolingual—the stakes for college-level language preparation are high. High school preparation is equally concerning, as only 11 states mandate foreign language for graduation, leaving many incoming freshmen underprepared or disinterested.

This overview sets the stage for understanding why foreign language enrollment decline in U.S. colleges is more than a statistic—it's a cultural and economic wake-up call.

Historical Trends: A Half-Century of Erosion

Foreign language study in U.S. higher education has a rich history, dating back to the colonial era when classical languages like Latin and Greek were cornerstones of a liberal arts education. By the mid-20th century, modern languages gained prominence amid global tensions like the Cold War, peaking in the 1960s when language enrollments reached 16.5 per 100 postsecondary students.

However, the trajectory reversed after 2009, when total enrollments hit a high of 1,673,566. Since then, a 29.3 percent decline has brought numbers back to late-1990s levels. The ratio of language enrollments to total students has fallen from 9.1 per 100 in 2009 to 6.5 in 2021, underscoring that the drop outpaces general enrollment trends.

Key milestones include federal budget cuts in 2011, which slashed 40 percent of Department of Education funding for international programs and language studies—a wound that has deepened by 2025. The Great Recession prompted a humanities funding squeeze, while the rise of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields drew students toward majors perceived as more job-ready. Today, as colleges grapple with demographic cliffs and post-pandemic recoveries, language programs bear the brunt.

• 1958 baseline: Modest enrollments dominated by Spanish and French.
• 2009 peak: Spanish alone accounted for over 50 percent of language courses.
• 2016-2021: Steepest recorded drop, with 961 fewer programs reporting offerings.
• 2026 context: ACTA warns of ongoing vulnerability amid budget crunches.

These trends highlight how foreign language enrollment decline in US colleges is not sudden but a culmination of policy shifts, economic pressures, and cultural changes.

Languages Feeling the Pinch: Winners and Losers

Not all languages are declining equally. Among the top 15 most commonly taught, nine saw drops exceeding 20 percent from 2016 to 2021. German led the freefall at minus 33.6 percent, shrinking from 80,594 to 53,543 students—a loss amplified at two-year institutions, where it fell 48.5 percent. French followed at minus 23.1 percent (175,710 to 135,088), Italian at minus 20.4 percent, and Spanish, the perennial leader with 584,453 enrollments in 2021, dipped 18 percent.

Arabic tumbled 27.4 percent amid shifting geopolitical interests, while classics like Latin and ancient Greek lost 21.5 percent and 13.8 percent, respectively. These declines correlate with fewer institutions offering courses: 172 fewer for German, 164 for French, and 105 for Chinese (down 14.3 percent).

Bright spots exist. American Sign Language (ASL) held steady with a 0.8 percent gain to 107,899 enrollments, bolstered by inclusivity efforts. Korean surged 38.3 percent to 19,270, fueled by K-pop, dramas, and cultural exports—adding more students than any other language. Biblical Hebrew rose 9.1 percent, possibly due to improved reporting in religious studies departments.

Two-year colleges saw a 24.2 percent plunge versus 14.7 percent at four-year institutions, hitting access for first-generation and lower-income students hardest.

Unraveling the Causes Behind the Decline

Several interconnected factors drive this downturn. Foremost is the erosion of requirements: in 2009-10, 50.7 percent of institutions had language mandates, down from 67.5 percent in 1994-95. Without compulsion, students prioritize majors aligning with immediate job prospects, viewing languages as electives rather than essentials.

Financial strains exacerbate this. Language departments, often small and reliant on adjuncts, are first on the chopping block during deficits. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated drops, particularly at community colleges serving economically vulnerable populations. Broader rhetoric framing higher education as vocational training sidelines humanities, while tools like AI translators (e.g., Google Translate) erode perceived necessity—though experts argue they can't replicate nuanced cultural fluency.

K-12 pipelines are weak, with low proficiency and few requirements feeding ill-equipped college entrants. STEM dominance and enrollment cliffs further marginalize languages. As Paula Krebs of the MLA notes, post-recession funding cuts hit humanities hard, reshaping priorities.

• No mandates: Only 11% require intermediate proficiency.
• Budget cuts: 40% federal slash in 2011; ongoing state underfunding.
• Student choices: Job-focused majors over cultural skills.
• Tech disruption: AI reduces urgency for basic translation.

Far-Reaching Impacts on Campuses and Beyond

The fallout is profound. Shrinking enrollments mean program consolidations or closures, as at West Virginia University, which axed all world language majors and graduate programs in 2023 due to low numbers. In Ohio, six of seven schools cutting programs in 2024 targeted languages. This homogenizes curricula, reducing diversity in general education.

Societally, monolingualism hampers diplomacy, business, and security. A Council on Foreign Relations report found 15 percent of language-designated overseas posts vacant, with 24 percent inadequately trained. Multilingual jobs pay 19 percent more, and one in four employers loses business from language gaps. For academia, fewer language PhDs (down 37.1 percent) threaten faculty pipelines, especially in less commonly taught languages.

Equity suffers too: declines hit public and two-year schools hardest, limiting opportunities for underrepresented groups. As Lisa Di Bartolomeo of WVU observes, global events underscore the need for cultural understanding—yet enrollments in languages like Russian dipped amid tensions.

Institutional Cuts and Adaptations

Colleges respond variably. Some merge departments or shift to online/hybrid models, but cuts dominate. Examples include the University of Connecticut eyeing language major eliminations and public flagships suspending offerings. Success stories, like the University of Oklahoma's Italian program (down less than 5 percent), credit requirements, faculty support, and K-12 partnerships.

Consortia like the UW-System's Collaborative Language Program share courses cost-effectively. Interdisciplinary ties—medical Spanish, business Korean—boost appeal. Yet, adjunct reliance and minimum enrollment thresholds doom small programs.

Bright Spots: Languages Bucking the Trend

Amid gloom, Korean's 38 percent surge reflects pop culture's pull—dramas, BTS driving demand. ASL's stability ties to disability rights and inclusive education. Less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) fell only 6.8 percent overall, with gains at two-year schools (18.9 percent). These offer models: cultural relevance, community engagement, and targeted funding like Title VI grants sustain them.

Photo by Ling App on Unsplash

🎓 Charting a Path Forward: Solutions and Hope

ACTA proposes actionable steps: reinstate intermediate-level requirements in general education, narrow bloated core curricula to prioritize languages, and form consortia for shared offerings. Use tools like ACTA's Map of Foreign Language Program Graduates for partnerships. Federal advocacy for Title VI funding and private grants could help, alongside ACTFL proficiency assessments for job-market edge.

Administrators might integrate languages into global competency or Western Civ programs. Students benefit from study abroad, apps like Duolingo for prep, and career framing: link languages to higher ed jobs in international relations or business.

For educators eyeing opportunities, explore professor jobs in growing areas like Korean studies. Aspiring faculty can check how to write a winning academic CV to stand out.

In summary, while foreign language enrollment decline poses challenges, strategic reforms offer revival. Share your thoughts in the comments, rate your professor, or browse higher ed jobs and university jobs to stay engaged. Visit higher ed career advice for tips on thriving in academia.