Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Dominican University

The numbers here tell a concerning story: Dominican's Romance Languages graduates earn $29,102 in their first year—about $7,300 below Illinois's median for this program and $5,400 below the national median. Among Illinois Romance Languages programs, this ranks in just the 25th percentile, placing it well behind state schools like Illinois State ($49,448) and even comparable private institutions. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could swing with just a few additional data points, but the gap is substantial enough to warrant serious consideration.

The debt load of $26,246 is roughly average, but paired with below-average earnings, the 0.90 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates are carrying nearly a full year's salary in student loans. For context, Dominican serves a population where nearly half receive Pell grants, and an 80% admission rate suggests the school provides access to students who might face barriers elsewhere. However, financial accessibility at admission doesn't translate to financial outcomes after graduation if earnings fall short.

If your child is passionate about Romance Languages, look hard at the state schools on this list—Illinois State and Northern Illinois deliver significantly stronger earnings outcomes. If Dominican remains the choice for other reasons (location, community, fit), go in understanding that the financial payoff will likely be modest and may require graduate education or career pivoting to improve earning potential.