Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at University of Maryland-College Park

UMD's Romance Languages program delivers something increasingly rare in humanities majors: graduates actually out-earn both the national median ($39,516 vs. $34,497) and avoid the debt trap that often accompanies language degrees. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 means graduates carry roughly half their starting salary in loans—manageable by most standards—while their earnings sit in the 74th percentile nationally. Within Maryland, the program performs right around the state median, which makes sense given the state's generally strong humanities outcomes.

The 18% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests graduates find their footing in the job market, though the moderate sample size means individual outcomes will vary. At $46,606 four years out, these graduates aren't commanding six-figure salaries, but they're building stable careers—likely in education, government (given DC proximity), or business roles that value language skills. The $22,750 debt load is essentially average for this major nationally, neither a standout nor a red flag.

For families comfortable with humanities degrees and the career paths they typically enable, this program offers better-than-average outcomes. The combination of UMD's strong regional reputation and lower-than-state-average debt ($22,750 vs. $24,875 Maryland median) creates reasonable launching conditions. Just understand you're investing in skills that may take time to monetize fully, not a credential with immediate high earnings.