Which state pays Romance languages bachelor's graduates the most?

Massachusetts, where the median program pays its graduates $40,405 in their first year, the highest of 16 state rankings. Pennsylvania is next, at $38,534.

Which Romance languages bachelor's program pays the most?

Bentley University in Massachusetts reports the highest first-year pay of the 189 programs ranked here, $66,917. Its median federal debt is $26,887.

How much debt do Romance languages bachelor's graduates have?

The median program leaves its graduates with $22,067 in federal debt. Across programs, the median debt is 62% of first-year pay.

Highest-Paying Romance Languages (Bachelor's) Programs in the US

189 programs report first-year pay
16 state rankings
Bachelor's in Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

College Scorecard June 2026 release · BLS wages May 2025

The short answer

The median Romance languages bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $34,649 in their first year and $54,049 five years after. Massachusetts has the highest state median ($40,405), and Washington the lowest ($27,427). The median program leaves its graduates with $22,067 in federal debt.

Median first-year pay$34,649Across 189 programs

Median pay after 5 years$54,049Across 217 programs

Median federal debt$22,067Across 204 programs

Debt-to-earnings62%Across 171 programs

All 189 programs, ranked by graduate pay

Each program is ranked by the median pay of its graduates one year after they finished, from College Scorecard. This measures what graduates earn, not how good the teaching is. Pay also depends on where graduates live and work. Programs that don't report a figure are listed last when you sort by it.

#	School	Year 1 pay	After cost of living	Year 5 pay	Debt	Debt to pay
1	Bentley UniversityWaltham, MA · private nonprofit	$66,917	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,887	40%
2	University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI · public	$59,220	$57,900	$65,364	$23,975	40%
3	SMUDallas, TX · private nonprofit	$57,858	$59,612	$73,502	$19,730	34%
4	Columbia UniversityNew York, NY · private nonprofit	$54,327	Not adjusted	$78,873	$20,250	37%
5	Colgate UniversityHamilton, NY · private nonprofit	$53,541	Not adjusted	$79,583	$16,900	32%
6	College of the Holy CrossWorcester, MA · private nonprofit	$52,210	$49,368	$74,806	$26,975	52%
7	Bucknell UniversityLewisburg, PA · private nonprofit	$51,120	Not adjusted	$80,998	$24,625	48%
8	Illinois StateNormal, IL · public	$49,448	$49,469	$47,097	$22,375	45%
9	Amherst CollegeAmherst, MA · private nonprofit	$49,322	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
10	Tufts UniversityMedford, MA · private nonprofit	$49,164	Not adjusted	Not reported	$14,935	30%
11	Montclair StateMontclair, NJ · public	$47,487	$43,644	Not reported	$25,250	53%
12	Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN · private nonprofit	$47,208	Not adjusted	$71,012	$12,000	25%
13	CUNY York CollegeJamaica, NY · public	$46,882	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
14	Texas A&MCollege Station, TX · public	$46,860	$48,281	$59,456	$15,500	33%
15	Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC · private nonprofit	$46,190	Not adjusted	$65,175	$17,500	38%
16	Notre DameNotre Dame, IN · private nonprofit	$46,030	Not adjusted	$78,861	$19,250	42%
17	University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT · public	$45,868	$46,395	$54,571	Not reported	Not reported
18	Franklin and Marshall CollegeLancaster, PA · private nonprofit	$45,300	Not adjusted	Not reported	$19,250	42%
19	Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA · private nonprofit	$45,088	Not adjusted	$81,035	$27,000	60%
20	Penn StateUniversity Park, PA · public	$45,050	Not adjusted	$57,837	$23,250	52%
21	Fordham UniversityBronx, NY · private nonprofit	$44,073	Not adjusted	$53,448	$27,000	61%
22	Gettysburg CollegeGettysburg, PA · private nonprofit	$44,068	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,000	59%
23	Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY · public	$43,821	$40,605	$43,596	$19,212	44%
24	Butler UniversityIndianapolis, IN · private nonprofit	$43,678	Not adjusted	$62,341	$26,870	62%
25	University of the PacificStockton, CA · private nonprofit	$43,472	$39,263	$61,006	$23,750	55%
26	UW-Green BayGreen Bay, WI · public	$43,126	$45,832	$49,735	$26,500	61%
27	DePauw UniversityGreencastle, IN · private nonprofit	$43,049	Not adjusted	$68,130	$27,000	63%
28	Denison UniversityGranville, OH · private nonprofit	$42,992	Not adjusted	$50,912	Not reported	Not reported
29	Kean UniversityUnion, NJ · public	$42,750	$39,290	$47,454	$30,812	72%
30	UW-WhitewaterWhitewater, WI · public	$42,722	$45,403	$53,891	$25,714	60%
31	ASUTempe, AZ · public	$42,436	Not adjusted	$53,459	$21,534	51%
32	Colby CollegeWaterville, ME · private nonprofit	$42,326	Not adjusted	Not reported	$17,500	41%
33	Hamilton CollegeClinton, NY · private nonprofit	$41,946	Not adjusted	$58,619	$12,200	29%
34	Winona StateWinona, MN · public	$41,866	Not adjusted	$47,576	$20,017	48%
35	University of DenverDenver, CO · private nonprofit	$41,865	$40,625	$43,743	$21,933	52%
36	UW-Eau ClaireEau Claire, WI · public	$41,109	$43,689	$60,794	$23,524	57%
37	Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI · private nonprofit	$41,033	$43,608	$58,023	$19,500	48%
38	University of PortlandPortland, OR · private nonprofit	$41,018	Not adjusted	$66,766	$23,499	57%
39	UC BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · public	$40,818	$36,866	$65,810	$11,593	28%
40	Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL · public	$40,586	$40,603	$53,528	$21,250	52%
41	Sam Houston StateHuntsville, TX · public	$40,562	$41,792	$48,540	Not reported	Not reported
42	Westfield StateWestfield, MA · public	$40,405	$38,206	Not reported	$27,000	67%
43	Bates CollegeLewiston, ME · private nonprofit	$40,395	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
44	William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA · public	$40,260	Not adjusted	$56,703	$20,500	51%
45	Concordia College at MoorheadMoorhead, MN · private nonprofit	$40,212	Not adjusted	$50,530	$27,000	67%
46	Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NY · private nonprofit	$40,204	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
47	Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA · private nonprofit	$40,019	Not adjusted	$73,682	$19,500	49%
48	BYUProvo, UT · private nonprofit	$40,002	$40,462	$71,117	$13,219	33%
49	Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY · private nonprofit	$39,825	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,137	66%
50	New Jersey City UniversityJersey City, NJ · public	$39,714	$36,500	$59,717	$19,777	50%
51	Dickinson CollegeCarlisle, PA · private nonprofit	$39,694	Not adjusted	$80,589	$19,000	48%
52	University of MarylandCollege Park, MD · public	$39,516	$37,649	$57,044	$22,750	58%
53	Wofford CollegeSpartanburg, SC · private nonprofit	$39,499	Not adjusted	$54,450	$25,269	64%
54	Miami UniversityOxford, OH · public	$39,220	$42,275	$50,825	$20,702	53%
55	Clemson UniversityClemson, SC · public	$39,209	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,500	68%
56	DePaul UniversityChicago, IL · private nonprofit	$39,207	Not adjusted	$55,163	$27,000	69%
57	UIUCChampaign, IL · public	$38,942	$38,958	$62,665	$21,800	56%
58	University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE · public	$38,478	$42,704	$51,974	$21,000	55%
59	UVACharlottesville, VA · public	$38,269	$37,851	$64,686	$14,050	37%
60	Calvin UniversityGrand Rapids, MI · private nonprofit	$38,068	$39,565	$48,951	$19,500	51%
61	Idaho StatePocatello, ID · public	$38,054	Not adjusted	$52,438	$28,000	74%
62	Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MA · private nonprofit	$37,968	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
63	Iowa StateAmes, IA · public	$37,909	$43,195	$47,493	$23,748	63%
64	Minnesota State MankatoMankato, MN · public	$37,845	Not adjusted	$64,308	$20,865	55%
65	Queens CollegeQueens, NY · public	$37,654	$34,890	$56,850	Not reported	Not reported
66	Ball StateMuncie, IN · public	$37,553	Not adjusted	$41,975	$21,702	58%
67	John Jay CollegeNew York, NY · public	$37,442	$34,694	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
68	Indiana University of PennsylvaniaIndiana, PA · public	$37,374	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,466	71%
69	Wheaton CollegeWheaton, IL · private nonprofit	$37,025	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,650	72%
70	UW-La CrosseLa Crosse, WI · public	$37,018	$39,341	$52,423	$24,747	67%
71	Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA · private nonprofit	$36,776	Not adjusted	$57,010	$10,152	28%
72	UC IrvineIrvine, CA · public	$36,692	$33,139	$53,654	$9,500	26%
73	Chapman UniversityOrange, CA · private nonprofit	$36,546	Not adjusted	Not reported	$20,500	56%
74	Cal Poly HumboldtArcata, CA · public	$36,444	$32,915	Not reported	$19,083	52%
75	UW-Stevens PointStevens Point, WI · public	$36,411	$38,696	$43,741	$24,575	67%
76	University of DelawareNewark, DE · public	$36,297	Not adjusted	Not reported	$25,336	70%
77	Sonoma StateRohnert Park, CA · public	$36,237	$32,729	$58,303	$17,250	48%
78	University of IdahoMoscow, ID · public	$36,200	$37,908	Not reported	$16,835	47%
79	Western Carolina UniversityCullowhee, NC · public	$36,179	$38,355	Not reported	$23,250	64%
80	Hope CollegeHolland, MI · private nonprofit	$35,992	Not adjusted	$54,230	$27,000	75%
81	Lehman CollegeBronx, NY · public	$35,941	$33,303	Not reported	$8,617	24%
82	Texas StateSan Marcos, TX · public	$35,781	$36,866	$50,661	$22,133	62%
83	Elmhurst UniversityElmhurst, IL · private nonprofit	$35,767	$35,782	$65,456	$20,000	56%
84	UW-MadisonMadison, WI · public	$35,720	$37,962	$60,761	$20,250	57%
85	Michigan StateEast Lansing, MI · public	$35,658	$37,060	$54,726	$28,000	79%
86	UC Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA · public	$35,635	$32,185	$60,275	$16,261	46%
87	Lake Forest CollegeLake Forest, IL · private nonprofit	$35,622	$35,637	$49,254	$27,000	76%
88	University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV · public	$35,591	$35,598	$47,651	$14,139	40%
89	Oakland UniversityRochester Hills, MI · public	$35,411	$36,803	Not reported	$25,428	72%
90	Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA · private nonprofit	$35,407	Not adjusted	$52,652	$19,000	54%
91	UNC CharlotteCharlotte, NC · public	$35,208	$37,326	$46,036	$23,250	66%
92	UNC GreensboroGreensboro, NC · public	$35,191	$37,308	$40,252	$23,029	65%
93	UT AustinAustin, TX · public	$34,929	$35,988	$62,697	$19,241	55%
94	University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, IA · public	$34,702	$39,541	$52,414	$23,251	67%
95	Baylor UniversityWaco, TX · private nonprofit	$34,649	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,228	76%
96	University of WashingtonSeattle, WA · public	$34,572	$32,306	$61,643	$13,559	39%
97	Oregon StateCorvallis, OR · public	$34,510	Not adjusted	Not reported	$28,758	83%
98	University of ArizonaTucson, AZ · public	$34,484	$34,252	$47,583	$16,725	49%
99	Sacramento StateSacramento, CA · public	$34,117	$30,814	$53,378	$20,000	59%
100	UH-DowntownHouston, TX · public	$34,003	$35,034	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
101	Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ · public	$33,901	$33,673	$51,972	$20,000	59%
102	UW-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI · public	$33,705	$35,820	$57,941	$23,000	68%
103	Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY · private nonprofit	$33,419	Not adjusted	$81,245	$15,500	46%
104	IU BloomingtonBloomington, IN · public	$33,307	$35,688	$62,679	$14,000	42%
105	University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · public	$33,169	$34,446	$56,577	$22,760	69%
106	Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ · public	$33,081	$30,404	$42,735	$27,000	82%
107	UC Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA · public	$32,934	$29,745	$51,675	$17,340	53%
108	UConnStorrs, CT · public	$32,795	Not adjusted	$58,836	$24,377	74%
109	Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY · public	$32,718	$30,317	$71,075	$19,500	60%
110	Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI · public	$32,630	$33,913	$49,620	$28,625	88%
111	UNC Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC · public	$32,508	$34,463	$55,230	$13,500	42%
112	College of CharlestonCharleston, SC · public	$32,503	$34,670	$53,369	$26,370	81%
113	Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA · private nonprofit	$32,356	Not adjusted	$60,762	$20,500	63%
114	University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM · public	$32,236	$34,959	$54,218	$15,187	47%
115	St Olaf CollegeNorthfield, MN · private nonprofit	$32,094	$32,543	Not reported	$24,830	77%
116	IU IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN · public	$32,084	$34,377	$47,397	$19,543	61%
117	Monmouth CollegeMonmouth, IL · private nonprofit	$32,036	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	84%
118	Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso, IN · private nonprofit	$31,752	Not adjusted	$51,226	$26,900	85%
119	University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN · public	$31,622	$32,064	$57,630	$21,000	66%
120	Grand Valley StateAllendale, MI · public	$31,569	$32,810	$49,685	$28,740	91%
121	RutgersNew Brunswick, NJ · public	$31,335	$28,799	$55,390	$22,000	70%
122	University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth, MN · public	$31,174	$31,610	$51,082	$24,657	79%
123	Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · public	$30,970	$31,741	$53,813	$26,000	84%
124	University at AlbanyAlbany, NY · public	$30,810	$28,549	Not reported	$21,681	70%
125	Hunter CollegeNew York, NY · public	$30,534	$28,293	$53,642	$15,523	51%
126	UT ArlingtonArlington, TX · public	$30,505	$31,430	$51,351	$16,797	55%
127	University of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH · public	$30,504	Not adjusted	Not reported	$25,000	82%
128	Cal State Channel IslandsCamarillo, CA · public	$30,502	$27,549	$50,479	Not reported	Not reported
129	UTEPEl Paso, TX · public	$30,291	$31,209	$53,955	$24,050	79%
130	Utah StateLogan, UT · public	$30,242	$30,589	$66,385	$20,500	68%
131	Central CollegePella, IA · private nonprofit	$30,211	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	89%
132	Gonzaga UniversitySpokane, WA · private nonprofit	$29,859	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	90%
133	University of OregonEugene, OR · public	$29,765	$28,797	$52,141	$19,500	66%
134	University of PittsburghPittsburgh, PA · public	$29,617	$30,354	$51,242	$27,000	91%
135	UC DavisDavis, CA · public	$29,330	$26,490	$53,788	$14,171	48%
136	Cal State San MarcosSan Marcos, CA · public	$29,329	$26,489	$47,058	$7,500	26%
137	Dominican UniversityRiver Forest, IL · private nonprofit	$29,102	$29,114	Not reported	$26,246	90%
138	Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, NY · private nonprofit	$28,999	Not adjusted	$54,746	$19,000	66%
139	University of IowaIowa City, IA · public	$28,746	$32,754	$50,428	$23,702	82%
140	Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, IA · private nonprofit	$28,691	Not adjusted	$58,680	$17,814	62%
141	SUNY New PaltzNew Paltz, NY · public	$28,681	Not adjusted	$60,084	$16,000	56%
142	Florida StateTallahassee, FL · public	$28,603	$27,659	$46,053	$19,750	69%
143	Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, MI · public	$28,231	$29,341	$43,998	$27,000	96%
144	San Diego StateSan Diego, CA · public	$28,182	$25,453	$43,905	$14,957	53%
145	Seattle UniversitySeattle, WA · private nonprofit	$28,082	$26,242	$47,719	$23,319	83%
146	Weber StateOgden, UT · public	$27,989	$28,311	$63,443	$12,000	43%
147	Drew UniversityMadison, NJ · private nonprofit	$27,823	Not adjusted	$54,015	$27,000	97%
148	Ohio StateColumbus, OH · public	$27,815	$29,981	$59,003	$22,746	82%
149	University of RedlandsRedlands, CA · private nonprofit	$27,731	Not adjusted	$65,762	$27,000	97%
150	Cal Poly PomonaPomona, CA · public	$27,657	$24,979	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
151	University of FloridaGainesville, FL · public	$27,578	$26,668	$61,423	$13,000	47%
152	Portland StatePortland, OR · public	$27,500	$26,606	$39,211	$19,416	71%
153	Eastern Washington UniversityCheney, WA · public	$27,427	Not adjusted	$40,661	$20,518	75%
154	University of New HampshireDurham, NH · public	$27,312	Not adjusted	$50,562	$27,000	99%
155	UTRGVEdinburg, TX · public	$27,138	$27,961	$45,243	$12,633	47%
156	Willamette UniversitySalem, OR · private nonprofit	$27,044	Not adjusted	$41,614	$21,511	80%
157	UCLALos Angeles, CA · public	$26,966	$24,355	$60,038	$14,752	55%
158	Mercer UniversityMacon, GA · private nonprofit	$26,952	$27,990	Not reported	$26,049	97%
159	UW-OshkoshOshkosh, WI · public	$26,584	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
160	Boise StateBoise, ID · public	$26,579	$27,833	$48,714	$23,500	88%
161	Western Washington UniversityBellingham, WA · public	$26,557	$24,817	$59,430	$19,121	72%
162	Georgia StateAtlanta, GA · public	$26,232	$27,242	$48,854	$29,221	111%
163	Mount Holyoke CollegeSouth Hadley, MA · private nonprofit	$26,013	Not adjusted	$54,680	$23,828	92%
164	Nazareth UniversityRochester, NY · private nonprofit	$25,979	$24,072	Not reported	$26,768	103%
165	Texas TechLubbock, TX · public	$25,814	$26,597	$55,962	$19,750	77%
166	UNC WilmingtonWilmington, NC · public	$25,426	$26,955	$47,480	$23,751	93%
167	San Francisco StateSan Francisco, CA · public	$25,242	$22,798	Not reported	$15,250	60%
168	University of Puget SoundTacoma, WA · private nonprofit	$25,035	Not adjusted	$64,370	$27,000	108%
169	Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY · public	$24,967	Not adjusted	$41,409	Not reported	Not reported
170	UNTDenton, TX · public	$24,880	$25,634	$50,856	$20,666	83%
171	Pacific Lutheran UniversityTacoma, WA · private nonprofit	$24,773	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
172	UC RiversideRiverside, CA · public	$24,453	$22,085	$54,555	$19,000	78%
173	Augustana CollegeRock Island, IL · private nonprofit	$24,208	$24,218	$55,297	$27,000	112%
174	City College of New YorkNew York, NY · public	$23,932	$22,175	$60,398	Not reported	Not reported
175	Wright StateDayton, OH · public	$23,739	$25,588	$42,444	$19,500	82%
176	Susquehanna UniversitySelinsgrove, PA · private nonprofit	$23,699	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	114%
177	Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelaware, OH · private nonprofit	$23,537	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	115%
178	Chico StateChico, CA · public	$22,917	$20,698	$55,893	$17,200	75%
179	University of MichiganAnn Arbor, MI · public	$22,803	$23,700	$64,140	$17,677	78%
180	Bowling Green StateBowling Green, OH · public	$22,734	$24,505	$38,972	$26,500	117%
181	Allegheny CollegeMeadville, PA · private nonprofit	$21,822	Not adjusted	$57,042	$27,000	124%
182	Cal State Long BeachLong Beach, CA · public	$21,609	$19,517	$48,906	$10,250	47%
183	University of South CarolinaColumbia, SC · public	$21,411	Not adjusted	$60,164	$23,189	108%
184	Cal State LALos Angeles, CA · public	$20,433	$18,455	$37,933	Not reported	Not reported
185	Fresno StateFresno, CA · public	$20,070	$18,127	$56,219	$10,250	51%
186	Washington & Jefferson CollegeWashington, PA · private nonprofit	$19,700	$20,190	Not reported	$27,000	137%
187	University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR · public	$19,519	Not adjusted	$58,267	$21,500	110%
188	Centre CollegeDanville, KY · private nonprofit	$19,503	Not adjusted	Not reported	$23,480	120%
189	Cal State San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CA · public	$18,490	$16,700	$48,673	$10,967	59%

Pay after cost of living divides first-year pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price level of the school's state, where the US average is 100. It is shown for 116 programs where at least half of the graduates who work are working in the school's state. The other 73, whose graduates mostly work in other states or whose state has no price level, are listed last when you sort by it.

18 programs report pay but not debt, so they are ranked only by pay.

College Scorecard withholds pay for programs with too few graduates, to protect their privacy, so those programs can't be ranked.

Romance Languages (Bachelor's) programs by state

Each row is the median across the state's Romance languages bachelor's programs. State names link to the full ranking of that state's programs.

#	State	Programs	Year 1 pay	Debt
1	Massachusetts	9	$40,405	$25,358
2	Pennsylvania	12	$38,534	$26,233
3	Indiana	7	$37,553	$21,702
4	New York	19	$37,442	$19,212
5	Wisconsin	9	$37,018	$24,050
6	New Jersey	6	$36,398	$26,125
7	Illinois	10	$36,396	$25,623
8	North Carolina	5	$35,191	$23,250
9	Minnesota	6	$34,970	$22,829
10	Texas	12	$34,326	$19,740
11	Michigan	8	$34,021	$27,000
12	Iowa	5	$30,211	$23,725
13	Oregon	5	$29,765	$21,511
14	California	23	$29,329	$16,261
15	Ohio	7	$27,815	$25,750
16	Washington	7	$27,427	$23,319

Programs in 22 more states and territories report pay, but too few to rank. A state ranking needs at least five programs that report both pay and debt.

Quick picks nationwide

Lowest median debt

Cal State San Marcos, CA$7,500
Lehman College, NY$8,617
UC Irvine, CA$9,500
Wellesley College, MA$10,152
Cal State Long Beach, CA$10,250
Fresno State, CA$10,250
Cal State San Bernardino, CA$10,967
UC Berkeley, CA$11,593
Hamilton College, NY$12,200
UTRGV, TX$12,633

Lowest debt for the pay

Only the 135 programs with their own page here are included. "Debt for the pay" is median debt divided by first-year pay.

Careers this field leads to

These are the jobs that the federal crosswalk from fields of study to occupations links to Romance languages, largest first. Pay is the median across the US and all experience levels.

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

$72,040

Median pay in the US. 1,065,210 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to stay about the same in number from 2025 to 2035, with about 63,500 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $48,780Top 10%: $107,600

Interpreters and Translators

$60,170

Median pay in the US. 52,060 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 6,000 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $37,070Top 10%: $103,660

Common questions

The median Romance languages bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $34,649 in their first year and $54,049 five years after.

About this data

Earnings and debt only include students who received federal financial aid, and earnings only count graduates who were working and not enrolled in more school.
Debt only includes federal loans. Private loans and credit cards are not counted.
Medians are across programs, not students: each program counts once, however many graduates it has.
National medians include every program in the 50 states, DC, and US territories, including schools that have since closed. Schools with several campuses that report one combined figure are counted once.
Programs are ranked by College Scorecard median pay one year after graduation. Pay after cost of living uses the price level of the school's state.
Scorecard figures describe graduating classes from several years ago. BLS wages are from May 2025. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study and institution files, June 2026 release
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
NCES, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024