Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Barton College

Romance language programs in North Carolina cluster tightly around $35,000 in first-year earnings, with even UNC-Chapel Hill graduates earning similar amounts initially. Based on comparable programs statewide, Barton graduates would likely start near this $35,191 figure—close to the national median for this major and typical of what state universities produce.

The estimated $25,490 in debt sits above both the state median ($23,250) and national median ($22,722) for these programs, though the difference amounts to roughly $2,000-3,000 total. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72, graduates would need to dedicate about three-quarters of their first year's gross income to clear this debt—manageable but requiring careful budgeting. This isn't dramatically out of line with peer programs, but it does mean less financial cushion than graduates from lower-debt alternatives would have.

The reality is that Romance language degrees typically lead to modest starting salaries regardless of where you study—even top-ranked programs show similar early earnings. What matters more is how your student plans to leverage the degree (teaching, translation, international business, graduate school) and whether Barton's smaller environment (37% Pell-eligible student body, 96% admission rate) offers personalized faculty relationships that larger programs can't match. The financial picture based on peer programs suggests this is viable if your student has clear career goals, but not if they're simply hoping the degree will naturally lead to higher-paying opportunities.