Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at College of Our Lady of the Elms

Romance language programs across Massachusetts paint a picture of dramatic variation, with first-year earnings spanning from $40,000 to nearly $67,000 depending on the institution. For Elms College, the estimated $40,400 in earnings—derived from the median of nine similar programs in the state—positions this bachelor's degree at the lower end of that range, matching what state schools like Westfield produce but falling well short of private competitors like Holy Cross or Bentley.

The estimated $21,400 in debt is actually lower than both the state and national medians for romance language programs, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 that suggests graduates could reasonably manage repayment. However, that calculation assumes the earnings estimate holds true. The reality is that small graduate cohorts in this field make actual outcomes for Elms difficult to verify. What we do know is that romance language degrees nationally produce modest starting salaries—the typical graduate earns around $34,500—and the Massachusetts market doesn't dramatically improve those prospects unless you're at a highly selective institution.

For parents considering this investment, the key question is career trajectory. If your child plans graduate school or has a clear path leveraging language skills (international business, translation, education), the manageable debt provides flexibility. But if the plan is simply "figure it out after graduation," starting at $40,000 with a humanities degree requires either family financial support or a backup skill set to make the numbers work.