Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Concordia University-Chicago

Illinois romance language programs show stark earning differences, with graduates from Illinois State earning $49,000 their first year while similar programs across the state suggest typical outcomes closer to $36,000. That's where Concordia-Chicago's program appears to land based on peer institutions—right at the state median but substantially below what other local universities are producing.

The estimated $26,825 in debt falls between the state and national medians for these programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. While manageable on paper, comparable programs in Illinois demonstrate that the credential alone doesn't guarantee strong outcomes. The nearly $10,000 gap between what peer programs typically produce and what top-performing state programs achieve is significant when you're making monthly loan payments. With 45% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here can't afford to gamble on below-average placement or networking support.

The core challenge is clear: without knowing how Concordia-Chicago's specific graduates perform—whether they're securing positions that require this degree, pursuing graduate studies that improve outcomes, or building the language fluency employers value—you're betting on a program whose actual track record remains invisible. If your child is set on romance languages, the programs with reported data at Illinois State, Northern Illinois, or DePaul offer both transparency and demonstrably stronger early earnings.