Foreign Language Requirements – What's the Typical Amount?

College apps are scaring the heck out of me. To slightly ease my mind, can anyone tell me how many foreign language credits most colleges require? Thanks, amigos!

In terms of high school foreign language credits, many colleges typically expect to see at least 2 years, though 3-4 years of a language can boost your profile. However, the number of credits required can vary greatly depending on the selectivity of the school. Highly selective colleges often expect to see more than the minimum, preferably at least 4 years, while less selective schools may only require 2 years.

Additionally, keep in mind that some universities or specific programs within them, like liberal arts or international studies programs, might prioritize foreign language study more heavily in their admissions decisions.

Lastly, some colleges might have language proficiency requirements for their students, where you'll need to achieve a certain level of fluency (usually beginner or intermediate) to graduate. This would be separate from the high school coursework requirements you were asking about and wouldn't affect your admissions chances, but I thought it might be helpful to mention in case you didn't know about it.

To help ease your stress, I suggest you identify the specific colleges you are interested in applying to and checking their admissions websites for specifics. You can typically find a list of required and recommended coursework for applicants there. Hope this helps!