LinguaVista includes information on selected language programs that meet a set of practical indicators of program quality. In the absence of testing data due to the fact that universities do not normally test language proficiency at the end of the program, LinguaVista established a set of criteria for program selection. Note that some of the selected programs do not meet all of the criteria. Certain exceptions from the criteria were made, particularly for some least commonly taught languages due to the general scarcity of courses in these languages. LinguaVista used the following criteria for different types of programs:
- National Flagship Language Initiative award from the National Security Education Program to promote target language proficiency at ILR 3/ACFTL Superior level;
- Affiliation of a National Resource Center (US Department of Education Title VI/Fulbright-Hays) with the university, in a related world area;
- Level of language courses offered; in particular, whether courses at or beyond third-year are offered;
- Degrees offered; in particular, whether undergraduate degrees in the target language are offered, at the minimum.
- Affiliation with US institutions with strong offerings in the target language; or
- Consortial relationship with such institutions; for example, the Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute at the University of Wisconsin draws students from a number of institutions with strong course offerings in languages of this world area.
- Affiliation with US institutions with strong course offerings in the target language; or
- Referral by a US association of teachers of the target language; for example, the American Association of Teachers of Arabic, or the American Association of Teachers of Korean.
- Pre- and/or post-program proficiency testing;
- Quality of instruction; in particular, the instructors are trained in foreign language pedagogy;
- Suitable living arrangements; in particular, living with native speakers of the target language;
- Needs assessment and/or diagnostic assessment for learners;
- On-site program administration and/or logistical support;
- Formal links with local educational institutions; for example, access to libraries, computer labs, etc.