Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at St. Francis College

Brooklyn's humanities programs face tough economics, and Romance Languages at St. Francis appears no different. Based on comparable programs across New York, graduates likely earn around $37,400 in their first year—a figure that barely edges above the national median for this field but falls well short of what students at nearby Columbia or Fordham can expect. The estimated $19,625 in debt translates to roughly half a year's earnings, which sounds manageable on paper but becomes trickier when you consider the reality of entry-level salaries in the mid-thirties.

The comparison points tell an uncomfortable story. While St. Francis serves a population where nearly half of students receive Pell grants—meaning this degree matters enormously for social mobility—peer programs in New York show a wide range of outcomes. CUNY York College graduates reportedly earn $46,882, nearly $10,000 more annually, while even mid-tier options like Stony Brook command salaries in the low forties. That gap compounds quickly over a career and affects everything from loan repayment timelines to housing affordability in expensive Brooklyn.

For families weighing this program, the central question is whether a Romance Languages degree from St. Francis opens specific doors—teaching credentials, graduate school preparation, particular industry connections—that justify the investment when state schools offer better estimated returns. Without those clear pathways, you're banking on intangibles in a field where the financial outcomes already skew modest.