Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Oregon State University

Oregon State's Romance Languages program sits right at the national median for earnings—but that small sample size (under 30 graduates) means we're working with limited information. Still, the numbers we have paint a relatively encouraging picture: graduates here earn about $2,400 more than the typical Oregon program in this field, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. Among the state's 14 comparable programs, only University of Portland shows significantly stronger outcomes.

The debt load deserves close attention. At $28,758, it's higher than both state and national medians for this major, though the 0.83 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable compared to many liberal arts programs. What's particularly notable is that Oregon State ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt—meaning 95% of similar programs nationwide saddle students with more borrowing. For a Romance Languages degree, where first-year salaries rarely exceed $40,000 anywhere, keeping debt contained matters enormously.

The real question is career trajectory. Language and literature majors often start modestly but can build valuable skills in communication, cultural fluency, and research. If your child plans to leverage this degree toward teaching, translation, international business, or graduate study, Oregon State delivers solid preparation without crushing debt. But if they're uncertain about next steps after graduation, that $34,510 starting salary won't leave much room for financial flexibility while they figure things out.