Best Schools for Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earn a median of $32,299 within two years of graduation, ranking #188 out of 292 tracked majors — 9% below the median across all fields. There are 314 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 7,377 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Amherst College graduates earn $67,101 while The University of Montana graduates earn $10,613 — a $56,488 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is moderate: Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates see an average 7% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

314
Schools
$32,299
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#188
of 292 Majors
7,377
Graduates

Public vs Private: Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Public (187 schools)
$30,759
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (124 schools)
$34,493
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $3,734 more in early earnings on average for Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics by State

Top Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
A

Amherst College

Amherst, MA · Private

$67,101
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 9.8%
#2
U

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN · Private

$54,630
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,909
Grads: 54
Acceptance: 12.4%
#3
G

Georgetown University

Washington, DC · Private

$52,107
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,870
Grads: 21
Acceptance: 13.1%
#4
B

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA · Private

$52,107
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 15.7%
#5
D

Duke University

Durham, NC · Private

$52,107
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 6.8%
#6
H

Hamilton College

Clinton, NY · Private

$50,439
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,658
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 11.8%
#7
W

Williams College

Williamstown, MA · Private

$49,644
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 10.0%
#8
B

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA · Private

$49,136
2yr Earnings
1yr: $45,358
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 32.0%
#9
S

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, MN · Private

$48,849
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 90.5%
#10
L

Lafayette College

Easton, PA · Private

$48,823
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 31.5%
#11
N

New Jersey City University

Jersey City, NJ · Public

$48,600
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,153
Grads: 38
Acceptance: 89.2%
#12
V

Villanova University

Villanova, PA · Private

$48,432
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,179
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 25.1%
#13
C

Colgate University

Hamilton, NY · Private

$47,260
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,895
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 11.9%
#14
U

University of Richmond

University of Richmond, VA · Private

$47,260
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,343
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 23.3%
#15
M

Minnesota State University-Mankato

Mankato, MN · Public

$46,478
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,178
Grads: 21
Acceptance: 91.3%
#16
U

University of Portland

Portland, OR · Private

$46,087
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,044
Grads: 47
Acceptance: 95.4%
#17
C

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public

$46,087
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 90.2%
#18
R

Rice University

Houston, TX · Private

$45,696
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 7.9%
#19
T

Tufts University

Medford, MA · Private

$45,500
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,566
Grads: 35
Acceptance: 10.1%
#20
U

Utah Valley University

Orem, UT ·

$44,971
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#21
C

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private

$44,942
2yr Earnings
1yr: $45,021
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 4.2%
#22
T

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

$43,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,824
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 63.2%
#23
M

Marist University

Poughkeepsie, NY · Private

$43,798
2yr Earnings
1yr: $45,890
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 64.7%
#24
S

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private

$43,426
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,384
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 61.2%
#25
U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,038
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 10.0%
#26
U

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 4.8%
#27
L

Loyola University Maryland

Baltimore, MD · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 76.3%
#28
C

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,229
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 21.1%
#29
U

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Eau Claire, WI · Public

$41,725
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,961
Grads: 65
Acceptance: 76.1%
#30
W

Washington College

Chestertown, MD · Private

$41,565
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 65.5%
#31
V

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN · Private

$41,565
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,649
Grads: 30
Acceptance: 6.3%
#32
W

William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA · Public

$41,565
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,690
Grads: 16
Acceptance: 32.7%
#33
G

Gonzaga University

Spokane, WA · Private

$41,565
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 76.0%
#34
U

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, ND · Public

$41,193
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 77.1%
#35
U

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Kansas City, MO · Public

$41,007
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 75.0%
#36
T

Trinity University

San Antonio, TX · Private

$40,485
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 28.2%
#37
U

University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public

$40,461
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,401
Grads: 42
Acceptance: 69.5%
#38
U

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public

$40,281
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 94.4%
#39
B

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

$39,909
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,254
Grads: 72
Acceptance: 69.2%
#40
W

William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ · Public

$39,729
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 92.5%
#41
P

Providence College

Providence, RI · Private

$39,729
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,668
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 48.7%
#42
S

Salisbury University

Salisbury, MD · Public

$39,648
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,448
Grads: 16
Acceptance: 88.6%
#43
S

Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$39,648
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 86.4%
#44
U

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI · Public

$39,585
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,833
Grads: 75
Acceptance: 77.1%
#45
E

Emory University

Atlanta, GA · Private

$39,369
2yr Earnings
1yr: $14,402
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 11.1%
#46
U

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Amherst, MA · Public

$39,369
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,701
Grads: 67
Acceptance: 57.8%
#47
S

Saint Anselm College

Manchester, NH · Private

$39,369
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 78.3%
#48
W

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC · Private

$39,369
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,991
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 21.6%
#49
U

University of Massachusetts-Boston

Boston, MA · Public

$39,153
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,154
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 83.0%
#50
U

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public

$38,559
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,871
Grads: 48
Acceptance: 44.8%

Showing top 50 of 314 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics?
Amherst College ranks #1 for Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics with median graduate earnings of $67,101 within two years. There are 314 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earn?
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earn an average of $32,299 within two years of graduation. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $10,613 to $67,101 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics program?
The average acceptance rate across Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs is 66.6%. The most selective program is at Columbia University in the City of New York with a 4.2% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics?
Private Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs average $34,493 in early earnings vs $30,759 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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