Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at University of Puget Sound

Your child would graduate with manageable debt from University of Puget Sound's Romance Languages program, but that first year after college will be financially tight. At $25,035, starting earnings fall below both the national median ($34,497) and what UW-Seattle graduates typically earn ($34,572). The 40th percentile ranking among Washington programs tells you this is a middle-of-the-road option within the state, though notably behind the stronger public university programs.

The silver lining is dramatic earnings growth—graduates more than double their income by year four, reaching $55,125. This trajectory suggests the program develops skills that take time to monetize in the job market, whether through graduate school, specialized positions, or career pivots that leverage language training. The debt load of $27,000 is only slightly above state and national medians for this major, making the initial struggle more about low starting wages than excessive borrowing.

If your child needs steady income immediately after graduation, this pattern should factor heavily into your planning. But for students who can weather a lean year or two—perhaps with family support or a planned graduate program—the long-term earnings trajectory becomes more reasonable. Just recognize you're investing in a selective private school whose Romance Languages outcomes don't outperform Washington's flagship public universities.