Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Baylor University

Baylor's Romance Languages program sits squarely in the middle of the pack nationally, with first-year earnings of $34,649 matching the national median almost exactly. More encouraging is its Texas ranking: at the 60th percentile statewide, it outperforms most comparable programs in the state, though it still trails powerhouses like SMU ($57,858) and Texas A&M ($46,860) by significant margins. The debt load of $26,228 is actually below the national median, keeping the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.76—less than one year's salary.

The real question is whether any Romance Languages degree justifies the investment, given that even top earners in this field rarely break $40,000 in their first year. Baylor's 51% admission rate and strong SAT scores suggest academically serious students, yet only 13% receive Pell grants, indicating this program largely serves families who can afford higher education without significant financial strain. That context matters, because $26,000 in debt becomes much harder to manage on $35,000 if you're supporting yourself entirely.

The bottom line: This isn't a standout program, but it's competitively priced for what it delivers—middle-of-the-road outcomes at below-average debt. Just remember the sample size is tiny (under 30 graduates), so one or two outliers could skew these numbers significantly. If your child is passionate about languages and has family financial support, Baylor is reasonable. If they're taking on significant debt independently, the modest earnings trajectory warrants serious consideration.