Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Northwestern University

Northwestern's elite reputation doesn't translate to elite early earnings in Romance Languages—at least not based on what comparable Illinois programs produce. With estimated first-year earnings around $36,400, this tracks almost exactly with the state median for these degrees, falling well behind what graduates earn at Illinois State ($49,448) or Northern Illinois ($40,586). The estimated debt of $26,825 is manageable in absolute terms, but it creates a 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio that reflects the fundamental challenge of humanities degrees: solid credentials, modest starting salaries.

The obvious counterargument is that Northwestern graduates may leverage the university's prestige differently than the typical Illinois Romance Languages major—perhaps pursuing graduate school, competitive fellowships, or careers where the degree serves as a general credential rather than specialized training. But banking on that means betting your child can outperform the typical trajectory for these majors, which is financially risky without concrete evidence.

For a family paying Northwestern's substantial tuition (partially offset by aid for some), this program makes sense primarily if your child has specific graduate school plans or career paths where the Northwestern name matters more than the major itself. Otherwise, the estimated earnings suggest this degree functions more as personal enrichment than financial investment—a choice that may be perfectly valid, but one that requires honest budgeting and realistic post-graduation expectations.