Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at University of North Carolina Wilmington

UNCW's Romance Languages program starts graduates at just $25,426—roughly $10,000 below what similar majors earn at other North Carolina schools and in the 12th percentile nationally. That's a difficult first year, landing graduates near poverty-level wages despite manageable debt of $23,751. The first-year numbers place this program in the bottom quarter even among NC Romance Languages programs, trailing schools like Western Carolina and UNC Charlotte by over $10,000.

The silver lining is substantial earnings growth: graduates see a 67% jump to $42,495 by year four, which brings them closer to peers. However, this catch-up game means spending those critical early career years significantly behind. For a field that rarely leads to high earnings anyway, starting this far below comparable programs creates real financial strain during loan repayment years.

The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests these outcomes are reasonably reliable, making the weak initial placement harder to dismiss as statistical noise. Parents should know their student will likely face a tougher financial start here than at other UNC system schools offering this major, even though the situation improves with time. If Romance Languages is the passion, consider whether starting nearly $1,000 behind monthly would affect your child's ability to live independently or manage debt during those crucial first years.