Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at University at Buffalo

A $19,500 debt load sits below both the state and national medians for Romance Languages programs, which matters when first-year earnings estimated around $37,400 put graduates near what similar programs across New York typically produce. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 suggests manageable repayment, though parents should note these earnings figures come from statewide patterns rather than Buffalo's specific outcomes—the school's graduate sample was too small for the Department of Education to publish.

The four-year earnings figure of $47,487 shows meaningful growth, jumping nearly $10,000 from that estimated first-year baseline. This trajectory matters more than the starting salary, especially when comparing Buffalo to higher-cost private alternatives in New York where graduates from programs like Columbia and Fordham start stronger but require significantly different financial investments to reach graduation.

For families weighing Buffalo's program, the reasonable debt burden combined with the university's 69% admission rate creates a practical path into language studies without the credential anxiety of ultra-selective schools. The uncertainty around first-year outcomes means your child should actively build job search skills and professional connections throughout their degree—the four-year data suggests graduates who stick with career development do see income growth, but that first year appears less predictable than programs with published data.