10K+
Participants advancing U.S. global engagement
Critical Language Scholarship Program
A funded immersive summer program for American college and university students.
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Develop career ready skills
Summer Growth!
The CLS Program marks its 20th anniversary in 2026, having supported more than 10,000 U.S. students from more than 500 institutions across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Among surveyed employed alumni, 96 percent reported skills gained on the CLS Program made them more competitive in the job market.
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"Understanding a culture is essential for effective diplomacy, and the best way to gain that understanding is through its language. CLS has provided me with both linguistic skills and cultural insights, enabling me to contribute to U.S. national security, diplomacy, and engagement."
CLS Persian Scholar
Adventure awaits
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Making an impact
800+
Educational institutions represented
430+
Congressional districts represented
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"Studying Mandarin opened doors I hadn’t imagined before. It directly helped me secure a position at an association of private equity companies, where my language skills and cultural insights became invaluable." - CLS Chinese Scholar
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