Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at CUNY Queens College

Queens College's Romance Languages program delivers earnings that beat both state and national averages—$37,654 in the first year puts graduates slightly above the NY median of $37,442 and well ahead of the national $34,497. Based on comparable programs at similar CUNY schools, debt loads typically run around $19,212, creating a manageable ratio where graduates earn nearly twice what they owe.

The 33% earnings jump to nearly $50,000 by year four suggests meaningful career progression, though there's a noticeable gap with elite private schools in the state—Columbia and Colgate graduates start above $50,000. Still, for a program serving a heavily Pell-eligible student body at a modest admission rate, these outcomes reflect solid value. The estimated debt is lower than the national benchmark for this major ($22,722), which matters when Romance Languages isn't typically a high-earning field.

The practical reality: your child would likely finish with less debt than peers at other schools while earning slightly more than typical graduates in this field. That's a favorable starting position, though language majors generally need graduate work or complementary skills for higher earnings. The question is whether they have a clear path to leverage the degree—teaching certification, international business skills, or translation work—since the major alone lands in the middle of the pack.