Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Texas A&M University-College Station

Texas A&M's Romance Languages program punches well above its weight, ranking in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile in Texas—remarkable numbers for a humanities degree. With first-year earnings of $46,860, graduates earn 36% more than the typical Texas graduate in this field and nearly $7,000 more than UT Austin students with the same degree. The manageable $15,500 in debt means graduates spend just 33 cents of every dollar earned on loans, a ratio that makes this program genuinely affordable even in a lower-paying field.

The catch is the earnings trajectory: salaries drop 8% to $42,963 by year four. This pattern isn't uncommon for language majors who may start in corporate roles but shift into teaching or nonprofit work. Even with the decline, these graduates still earn substantially more than most peers statewide. For context, they're trailing only SMU's program among major Texas schools, while beating UT Austin by $8,000.

For parents worried about humanities degrees, this represents a best-case scenario. The combination of low debt and strong initial earnings gives graduates financial breathing room that most language majors don't have. They can pursue teaching, translation, or international business roles without the burden of crushing loans. The moderate sample size means these numbers are reliable, and the program's consistent outperformance suggests strong career preparation beyond just language skills.