East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame's East Asian Languages program produces graduates earning $71,769 right after graduation—nearly triple the national median for this degree and well above Indiana's state median of $49,559. By year four, earnings climb to $80,901, a pattern that directly contradicts the usual trajectory for language majors who often see flat or declining wages. Even within Indiana, where this program ranks in the 80th percentile, the earnings gap is substantial: Notre Dame graduates make 45% more than the typical in-state peer.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $21,040, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under four months of gross income. This is manageable by any standard, especially given the school's highly selective profile and the strong earnings trajectory that follows.

The major caveat here is sample size: fewer than 30 graduates means these numbers could swing dramatically with just a few outliers. One student landing a lucrative consulting job could skew the entire cohort's average. Still, the earnings premium is so large compared to national and state benchmarks that even with some statistical noise, this program appears to deliver exceptional outcomes. For families who can navigate Notre Dame's admission process and afford attendance, this represents a language degree that actually pays—likely because the Notre Dame network and brand open doors that raw language skills alone typically don't.