Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Benedictine University

Similar Romance Languages programs across Illinois produce starting salaries around $36,400, with estimated debt of roughly $27,000 for Benedictine graduates. That 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in reasonable territory—less than one year's salary—but it's worth noting that Illinois State's Romance Languages grads earn nearly $50,000 in their first year, demonstrating significant variation in outcomes even within the state. The gap suggests that employer perception, alumni networks, or program design creates meaningful differences between schools.

The estimated figures here align closely with both national and state medians for this field, which means Benedictine appears positioned in the middle of the pack rather than offering exceptional value. With 39% of students receiving Pell grants, affordability matters considerably at this institution. The $27,000 debt load becomes more burdensome for first-generation students who may lack family financial cushions during lean early-career years in fields that often require graduate study or geographic flexibility to maximize earnings.

Your practical concern should be whether $36,400 provides enough runway for your child's specific goals. If they're planning graduate school (common in this field), can they manage loan payments while pursuing advanced degrees? If they're entering the workforce directly, does this salary work in their intended city? Given that these are estimates from peer programs rather than Benedictine's actual outcomes, request placement data and alumni contact information directly from the department before committing.