Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Boise State University

Boise State's Romance Languages program starts graduates well below where they need to be, with first-year earnings of $26,579 falling more than $7,600 below the national median and trailing both University of Idaho and Idaho State. That 17th percentile national ranking signals a significant early-career disadvantage, though the 61% earnings jump to $42,789 by year four suggests graduates eventually find their footing—possibly through additional credentials or career pivots that finally put their language skills to work.

The $23,500 debt load appears manageable on paper, matching both state and near-national medians. But paired with those weak initial earnings, the 0.88 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face nearly a full year's salary in debt right out of the gate. That's a tough position for someone likely working entry-level positions or considering graduate school, which many language majors need to reach higher-paying roles in translation, education, or international business.

For families considering this path, understand that you're investing in a program where financial returns are delayed and dependent on what students do after graduation. The strong earnings growth suggests possibilities, but the bottom-quartile starting point means several years of financial constraint before those possibilities materialize. If your student is passionate about Romance languages, they should enter with clear plans for how they'll leverage the degree—whether through specific career targeting, graduate school, or complementary skills that can accelerate that earnings timeline.