Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Temple University

Temple's Romance Languages program starts graduates at below-average earnings—$31K versus a $34K national median—but the trajectory tells a more interesting story. By year four, earnings jump 35% to nearly $42K, which starts to narrow the gap with higher-priced competitors. Still, this falls well short of what graduates earn at Bucknell ($51K) or Villanova ($45K), and even trails Pennsylvania's median for this major by about $7,700 in that crucial fourth year.

The $26,000 debt load is actually better controlled than most Romance Languages programs nationally (29th percentile), though it's right at Pennsylvania's median. That gives this program a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84—manageable but not comfortable for that first year out. For a family watching their budget, Temple's lower tuition matters, but they should understand their graduate will likely need supplemental income or family support early on while building toward mid-career stability.

The real question is whether a Romance Languages degree at Temple opens doors that justify starting nearly $10K below peers at Pennsylvania's top liberal arts colleges. If your student is committed to this field and Temple's urban location offers internship advantages or graduate school pathways, the reasonable debt makes sense. But if they're uncertain about career direction, starting at below both state and national medians deserves a hard conversation about backup plans.