Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Drexel University

Drexel's post-baccalaureate certificate in Romance Languages produces graduates earning $63,106 within a year—strong outcomes for a certificate program, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. The $28,000 median debt translates to a manageable 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary. This ratio is better than what you'd typically see for master's degrees in humanities fields. Nationally, this program ranks in the 95th percentile for earnings, though there are only five schools offering this specific credential across the country, making direct comparisons limited.

The practical question is what this certificate actually qualifies graduates to do. At these earnings levels, many are likely leveraging existing careers—perhaps teachers adding credentials, business professionals expanding into international markets, or career-changers building toward translation or interpretation work. The certificate format suggests it's designed for working adults rather than recent graduates, which would explain why earnings hold up well compared to traditional language degrees.

For parents whose child already holds a bachelor's degree and has a clear professional reason to add language credentials, the debt load here is reasonable. But if your student is considering this without a concrete career plan that requires Romance language expertise, question whether a $28,000 certificate is the right path—especially given how small and specialized this program is.