Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at University of Mount Saint Vincent

A Romance Languages degree from University of Mount Saint Vincent would leave graduates with an estimated $19,625 in debt—lower than what similar programs in New York typically produce ($19,212 median). The estimated first-year earnings of $37,442 match the state median exactly, suggesting this program performs in line with comparable language programs across New York. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 means graduates would owe roughly half their first-year salary, a manageable burden that many borrowers can realistically pay down within a few years.

However, context matters here. The top Romance Languages programs in New York—Columbia, Colgate, CUNY York—produce first-year earnings ranging from $44,000 to over $54,000, demonstrating that program quality and institutional reputation significantly impact outcomes in this field. Mount Saint Vincent's 85% admission rate and modest SAT profile suggest it operates in a different competitive tier, which likely explains why estimated outcomes cluster at the state median rather than above it.

For parents, the question is whether this represents good value for a humanities degree. The lower debt burden works in this program's favor, particularly for the 43% of students receiving Pell grants who may be managing limited resources. But language degrees typically require graduate study or specific career pivots to maximize earnings potential. If your child is passionate about languages and has a clear career path—teaching, translation, international business—this could work. If they're exploring broadly, programs with stronger early earnings trajectories might offer more financial cushion during that exploration phase.