Most universities require 2 years or more of foreign language study in the same language at a high school level. The "or more" is because schools look favorably on students who have higher proficiency in the foreign language. Some more exclusive universities, such as Harvard and Princeton, require 4 years of study in the same foreign language. To learn about a specific institution's requirements, look for information at the school's website or contact the admissions department via email or telephone. Be sure to ask if the university makes allowances for special circumstances or for bilingual individuals. Some universities may offer the possibility of testing out of language requirements.
Community colleges and some smaller colleges may offer "open admissions," which means they admit students without conventional academic qualifications such as foreign language skills. At these schools, applicants with a high school diploma or its equivalent are admitted, space permitting. Technical and vocational schools usually do not require foreign language credits for entrance. Always contact the particular school you wish to attend to learn about its specific foreign language requirements.
Some universities do not have foreign language requirements for transfer students with a certain number of college credit hours. If you don't have the necessary foreign language coursework completed for entrance to a particular university, consider completing part of your degree at another college or university and transferring at a later date. Another option is to enroll in a community college for at least one year of foreign language credit, during or following high school, which serves as the equivalent for two years of high school foreign language classes.