Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at California State University-Long Beach

A $21,609 starting salary ranks this program at the bottom 5% nationally—even among Romance language programs, which aren't known for high initial earnings. That first-year figure is roughly what full-time minimum wage work pays in California. While the debt load stays relatively modest at $10,250 (well below the $22,722 national median for this major), starting this far behind financially makes even manageable debt feel heavier. Within California, this program performs at just the 25th percentile, trailing UC Berkeley by nearly $20,000 in first-year earnings and even CSU Humboldt by $15,000.

The dramatic rebound to $41,926 by year four tells a more optimistic story—that 94% earnings jump suggests graduates eventually find professional roles that value their language skills. By the four-year mark, they've essentially caught up to where typical Romance language majors start. But that first year represents a real financial gap year, likely filled with survival jobs rather than career-building positions.

For families counting on immediate post-graduation income to help with loan payments or living expenses, this timing creates problems. The low debt helps, but parents should plan for significant financial support during that first year out of college. If your child has another year or two of language study ahead and you can afford to subsidize their early career phase, the eventual earnings recovery suggests the degree has value—just not right away.