Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Austin Community College District

Austin Community College's Romance Languages associate's program shows unusually strong outcomes, though the small graduating class (fewer than 30 students) means individual circumstances heavily influence these numbers. At $30,111 in first-year earnings, graduates match the national median—a rare achievement that places this program in the 95th percentile nationally. More impressive: earnings jump 29% by year four to $38,866, suggesting graduates either continue their education or develop marketable language skills that employers increasingly value.

The $14,125 in debt sits well below typical community college borrowing and translates to a manageable 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio. Within Texas, this program ranks at the 60th percentile—solidly middle-of-the-pack among the five schools offering this associate's degree in the state. That gap between national and state rankings likely reflects Texas's generally strong outcomes for language programs rather than any weakness here.

The caveat matters: with such a small cohort, these numbers could shift dramatically year to year. One student landing a particularly good or poor job can swing the median significantly. For parents, this works as an affordable way to start a language credential at community college prices, particularly if your child plans to transfer to complete a bachelor's degree. Just don't expect these specific numbers to hold steady across future graduating classes.