Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earn a median $55,000 four years after finishing — $6,640/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 10.2 years. Federal data pools 783 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 9,820 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ranks #139 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 32% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt University | TN | $114,368 |
| 2 | Villanova University | PA | $94,964 |
| 3 | Southern Methodist University | TX | $93,769 |
| 4 | Cornell University | NY | $89,275 |
| 5 | George Washington University | DC | $88,114 |
| 6 | University of Notre Dame | IN | $85,619 |
| 7 | Syracuse University | NY | $84,654 |
| 8 | Fordham University | NY | $83,961 |
| 9 | Colgate University | NY | $81,802 |
| 10 | Tulane University of Louisiana | LA | $79,925 |
| 11 | Providence College | RI | $76,956 |
| 12 | Bucknell University | PA | $76,364 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.