Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern's foreign languages program illustrates why earnings percentiles can mislead when sample sizes are small. While this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally, it's actually at the state median for Georgia—and only five schools offer this major in-state. The tiny cohort (under 30 graduates) means a few career outcomes can dramatically skew the numbers either way.

The first-year salary of $27,644 is genuinely low, even for the humanities, though the jump to $43,892 by year four shows graduates are finding better opportunities with experience. The debt load of $26,120 is reasonable—slightly below the state median and close to national averages for this field. With a 0.94 debt-to-earnings ratio initially, graduates should be able to manage repayment once they establish themselves professionally.

Here's the practical reality: foreign language degrees rarely lead to high-paying first jobs anywhere, and Georgia Southern's outcomes track with state norms. The strong earnings growth suggests graduates pivot into education, business roles, or other careers where language skills provide an edge. Given the small cohort and Georgia Southern's accessible price point (note the 35% Pell Grant population), this could work for a student passionate about languages and prepared for a modest starting salary. Just recognize that without graduate school or specialized skills, six-figure earnings aren't on the horizon.