Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Susquehanna University

The numbers here are stark: Romance Languages graduates from Susquehanna earn just $23,699 in their first year—roughly $10,000 below Pennsylvania's median for this major and among the lowest 10% statewide. When programs at nearby Bucknell and Franklin & Marshall produce starting salaries above $45,000 for the same degree, something requires explanation beyond typical major challenges.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few low earners could skew the entire picture, making these figures potentially unrepresentative of typical outcomes. That caveat matters enormously here. However, the debt load of $27,000 exceeds both state and national medians for this field, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that would take more than a full year's salary to pay off—a concerning starting point even for humanities majors who often see income growth in subsequent years.

If your student is committed to Romance Languages, Pennsylvania offers demonstrably stronger options at similar liberal arts colleges. The $20,000+ earnings gap between Susquehanna and comparable institutions is too large to ignore, especially when combined with above-average debt. Unless Susquehanna offers unique faculty mentorship or study-abroad opportunities that your family has specifically vetted, this particular program appears to underperform its peer group significantly. Request outcome data for a larger cohort of recent graduates before making a final decision.