Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Le Moyne College

Looking at comparable Romance Languages programs across New York, a Bachelor's degree in this field typically leads to first-year earnings around $37,400—right at the state median but notably trailing elite programs like Columbia ($54,300) and Fordham ($44,000). With estimated debt of $19,625, Le Moyne's program produces a manageable 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly half their first-year salary. That's better than the national median debt of $22,722 for these programs.

The challenge here isn't crushing debt but rather the career trajectory these degrees typically enable. Romance Languages graduates often pursue teaching, translation, or government work—fields where earning potential builds slowly or requires additional credentials. The estimated $37,400 starting point, while workable, doesn't leave much cushion for aggressive loan repayment in an expensive Syracuse housing market. Le Moyne's 30% Pell grant population suggests many families here won't have safety nets to fall back on.

For parents weighing this investment, understand that these estimates come from peer programs because Le Moyne's graduate sample was too small for the DOE to publish actual outcomes. That uncertainty cuts both ways—individual results could be better or worse. If your child is truly passionate about French, Spanish, or Italian literature and has a clear plan (double major, specific career path, graduate school strategy), the manageable debt keeps options open. Without that plan, $20,000 in loans for $37,000 earnings requires serious scrutiny about post-graduation employment.