Linguistic, Comparative, at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

UT-Knoxville's linguistics program delivers first-year earnings about 15% above the national median for this field, which sounds modest until you consider that linguistics typically starts around $27,000 nationally. The $31,713 these graduates earn places them in the 73rd percentile nationwide—a solid outcome for a humanities degree. The debt load of $20,612 is right at the national average for this major, creating a manageable 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates can handle within a few years.

Within Tennessee, this program sits in the middle of the pack. While it outearns the University of Memphis linguistics program by over $8,000 annually, it trails Middle Tennessee State by about $3,000. Still, UT-Knoxville's stronger overall reputation and the established alumni network of a flagship state university may create opportunities that don't show up in first-year earnings data.

The real question is whether your child has a clear path for applying linguistics skills—whether in language technology, education, localization, or graduate school. The earnings are respectable for a bachelor's in this field, but linguistics rarely leads to high-paying jobs straight out of college. If they're genuinely passionate about language and have realistic career expectations, the numbers work. If they're uncertain about their direction, the limited earnings growth potential in this field warrants serious consideration of how they'll position themselves for the job market.