Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Ohio Wesleyan University

Ohio Wesleyan's Romance Languages program graduates earn $23,537 in their first year—nearly $11,000 below the national median and $4,300 below Ohio's typical graduate in this field. While the 25th percentile state ranking suggests this isn't the worst outcome in Ohio, graduates here earn roughly half what their peers at Denison or Miami University make. The $27,000 debt load matches the state median but sits above the national benchmark, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.15 that means graduates owe more than a full year's salary.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) is crucial context—a few graduates landing low-paying jobs or pursuing graduate school immediately can dramatically skew these numbers. Romance Languages degrees often lead to careers in education, translation, or positions requiring additional credentials, which may explain the modest starting salary. However, even accounting for career path considerations, these earnings lag significantly behind comparable Ohio programs.

For families considering this investment, the combination of below-average earnings and above-average debt creates financial strain right out of college. Unless your child has specific career plans that explain lower initial earnings (like graduate school admissions already secured), the math here is challenging compared to other Ohio options for language studies.