Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers tell a surprisingly positive debt story for Pitt-Greensburg's Romance Languages program. At $27,000, graduates carry just slightly more debt than the Pennsylvania median ($26,733), yet this sits at the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of similar programs nationwide saddle students with more debt. For a program where earnings can be modest, that's a meaningful advantage.

The earnings trajectory shows both the challenge and promise of this path. Starting at $29,617 puts graduates below both state and national medians, ranking in just the 40th percentile among Pennsylvania programs. However, the 56% earnings growth by year four—rising to $46,207—suggests graduates find their footing after the initial post-grad period. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91 means the debt burden equals less than a year's starting salary, which is manageable if that upward trajectory continues.

The real question is whether your student is committed to the field and has a plan for those early years. With a 98% admission rate and strong Pell grant access (38%), this is an accessible option that won't bury students in debt. But starting salaries lag well behind Pennsylvania's top programs—Bucknell grads earn $51,120 from day one. If your student is passionate about Romance languages and willing to navigate lean initial years, the debt load won't haunt them. If they're uncertain about the major, the early earnings gap could be frustrating.