Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Marquette University

Marquette's Romance Languages program outperforms most competitors, with first-year earnings of $41,033 placing it 81st percentile nationally and above the Wisconsin median of $37,018. This isn't a program where graduates struggle to find work—earnings climb to over $50,000 by year four, representing solid 23% growth. The university's relatively open admissions (87% acceptance) paired with above-average test scores suggests decent academic standards without the pressure-cooker environment of more selective institutions.

The debt picture is actually favorable here. At $19,500, graduates carry about $2,500 less than Wisconsin's median for this major and nearly $3,200 below the national benchmark. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 means a typical graduate could theoretically pay off their loans in under six months if they devoted their entire first-year salary to it—a manageable burden by any reasonable standard.

The one consideration: this program ranks 60th percentile in Wisconsin, meaning two nearby UW system schools edge it out on earnings. But those differences are modest (we're talking $1,000-$2,000), and Marquette graduates carry significantly less debt than the state average. For families who value the private university experience and strong career outcomes without crushing debt, this represents solid value in what's traditionally considered a lower-earning humanities field.