Linguistic, Comparative, at University of South Florida

USF's linguistics program lands squarely in the middle—nationally it clears the median by about $1,200, but within Florida it falls roughly $1,500 below what graduates at other state programs earn. That 40th percentile ranking among Florida schools matters because most students will stay in-state, and programs like Florida Atlantic University demonstrate that linguistics grads in this market can earn $32,756 in their first year.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $16,500, graduates owe $2,000 less than Florida's median and about $4,200 less than the national benchmark for this degree. The 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio means students borrow just over half their first year's salary, which is manageable territory. Still, that first-year salary of $28,658 requires careful budgeting, and you'll want to understand whether your child has a clear path to the higher-earning roles that typically require language expertise—whether that's international business, translation services, or graduate study.

For families comfortable with a modest starting salary and looking at USF's in-state tuition advantage, this works as an affordable entry into the field. But if higher earnings are the priority, the top Florida programs show there's room for better outcomes with the same degree in the same job market.