Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Oregon State University-Cascades' Romance Languages program ranks second among Oregon's 14 offerings, delivering first-year earnings of $34,510—7% above the state median and roughly matching the national average. The debt load of $28,758 sits higher than both state and national benchmarks, but remains manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.83 (meaning graduates earn more than they borrowed within their first year). Only University of Portland outperforms this campus among Oregon programs, with a $6,500 earnings advantage that comes at a substantially higher tuition cost.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift considerably year-to-year, so they're better viewed as directional rather than definitive. What's clear is that this campus produces mid-tier outcomes for a humanities degree that typically leads to careers requiring additional credentials or time to build income. The relatively low admission rate of Pell grant recipients (28%) suggests this campus serves a less economically diverse population than many public institutions.

For families considering this path, the main question is whether their student plans to leverage this degree into graduate school, teaching certification, or translation work—careers where Romance language expertise pays off over time. If the answer is yes and staying in Oregon matters for cost reasons, this program holds its own against state competition.