Linguistic, Comparative, at University of Utah

University of Utah linguistics graduates earn $30,251 their first year out—slightly above the national median for this major but notably below Utah's state median of $32,265. That 40th percentile state ranking matters here: with only three schools offering this program in Utah, and with BYU graduates earning $34,000 right off the bat, parents should understand their student would likely be starting near the bottom of the local market for this degree.

The debt load of $21,715 translates to a manageable 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning students would owe less than a year's salary. That's reasonable by most standards, though it's worth noting that Utah's median debt for this program is actually lower at $16,668. The relatively high accessibility (87% admission rate, only 20% Pell recipients) suggests a fairly traditional student body rather than one serving primarily low-income students who might struggle more with any debt burden.

The critical caveat: fewer than 30 students in this sample means these numbers could shift dramatically year to year. One or two graduates pursuing non-traditional paths could skew everything. For a family confident their student will pursue linguistics specifically, this represents a moderate investment with below-average local outcomes. If there's any uncertainty about the major, consider whether starting at Utah's flagship makes sense when the in-state competition appears to deliver stronger initial results.