Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Augustana College

Augustana's Romance Languages program shows a troubling pattern: first-year earnings of $24,208 rank in just the 10th percentile among Illinois programs—meaning 90% of comparable state programs produce better immediate outcomes. While graduates do see strong earnings growth to $47,965 by year four, that initial year requires navigating a difficult financial period with $27,000 in debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.12 means new graduates owe more than their entire first-year salary, a situation that can make those early post-college years genuinely stressful.

The comparison to other Illinois programs is stark. Illinois State graduates earn $49,448 at the same career stage, while even the fifth-ranked Wheaton College ($37,025) significantly outperforms Augustana's outcomes. This isn't just about Augustana—it reflects the broader challenge of liberal arts language degrees, where career paths often start with lower-paying positions before graduates find their footing. The nearly 100% earnings growth suggests many do find better opportunities, but that first year represents real financial vulnerability.

For families comfortable supporting their student through that initial transition period, the later earnings become more reasonable. But if your child needs to be financially self-sufficient immediately after graduation, this program's early earnings gap poses concrete challenges. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means these numbers are reasonably reliable, making the 10th percentile state ranking particularly concerning rather than a statistical fluke.