Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Texas State University

Texas State's Romance Languages program outperforms most competitors in the state, ranking in the 60th percentile among Texas schools despite the university's broad accessibility (89% admission rate). While starting earnings of $35,781 won't impress anyone, they beat both the state median ($34,326) and national median ($34,497), and the program delivers stronger four-year growth (24%) than you'd typically see in humanities fields. Graduates are earning $44,227 by year four—not spectacular, but solid progression for a liberal arts degree.

The debt load of $22,133 is actually above the state median but remains manageable, translating to a 0.62 ratio against first-year earnings. That means the typical graduate faces annual debt payments equal to about 6% of their income—workable on an entry-level salary. The real question is whether your child plans to leverage language skills into higher-paying careers (translation, international business, education) or views this as a stepping stone to graduate school, where humanities degrees traditionally find better returns.

For families prioritizing employability in a traditional liberal arts major, Texas State offers middle-of-the-pack value. Your child won't start with the salary of a SMU graduate ($57,858), but they also won't carry the debt burden that often accompanies private universities. If language study genuinely excites them and they're strategic about career planning, this program provides a financially defensible path.