Linguistic, Comparative, at University of Southern Maine

With only one linguistics program in Maine, University of Southern Maine's offering sits exactly at the state median—because it *is* the median. More telling is where it lands nationally: right at the 52nd percentile for earnings, meaning it performs roughly average compared to the 388 similar programs across the country. The first-year salary of $27,895 barely edges out the national median, but debt of $25,437 comes in well below typical borrowing for this field (15th percentile nationally), which is genuinely positive news.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91 is manageable by most standards—graduates owe less than one year's salary, which is far better than many humanities programs manage. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing considerably with just a few different career outcomes. Linguistics degrees often serve as stepping stones to graduate programs or careers that develop over time, so that modest starting salary may not tell the full story.

For a family weighing this decision, the relatively low debt load is the strongest argument in favor. USM's 79% admission rate and accessible price point make it a practical choice for Maine students interested in linguistics without taking on crushing debt. Just understand you're betting on long-term career development rather than immediate earning power, and these particular numbers might shift with a larger graduate cohort.