Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Franklin College

Similar programs in Indiana suggest first-year earnings around $37,500 for Romance language graduates—a figure that falls just below the national 75th percentile but represents the state median. The estimated debt of $26,900 creates a ratio of 0.72, meaning roughly nine months of pre-tax earnings would be needed to cover the full loan balance. While this isn't an alarming debt burden by any means, it's notably higher than Indiana's typical debt load for this field ($21,700).

The challenge here is that Romance language degrees rarely lead directly to high-paying first jobs, and Franklin College's estimated outcomes align with this reality. You're essentially looking at mid-$30,000 earnings regardless of where your student studies in Indiana, though Notre Dame and Butler graduates with reported data start considerably higher (mid-$40,000s). Language degrees typically require additional credentials or strategic career positioning—teaching, translation, international business—to reach stronger earning potential, which may explain why some programs produce better results than others.

If your student is passionate about languages and has a clear plan for leveraging the degree (graduate school, specific career path, study abroad leading to international opportunities), the estimated debt load is manageable. But if they're uncertain about next steps or hoping the degree alone will open doors, you should understand that peer programs suggest a modest starting salary that won't provide much financial cushion while they figure things out.