Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at University of Utah

The University of Utah's Romance Languages program produces earnings that dramatically outperform national expectations—first-year graduates earn $45,868 compared to a national median of $34,497 for this major, putting them in the 95th percentile. Combined with estimated debt of $20,250 (based on comparable programs at Utah's public universities), this creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44, meaning graduates could theoretically repay their debt in under six months of gross earnings.

What makes this particularly striking is how it compares to Utah's other Romance Languages programs with reported data. Utah grads appear to earn about $5,800 more than those from BYU's well-regarded program and substantially more than graduates from Utah State or Weber State. The modest 7% earnings growth to year four suggests graduates find stable employment quickly rather than climbing dramatically, which isn't uncommon for liberal arts fields but does mean year-one placement matters significantly.

The caveat: these debt figures are estimates drawn from peer programs at Utah, not reported outcomes specific to Romance Languages graduates here. Still, even if actual debt ran higher, the strong earnings provide meaningful cushion. For families concerned about the "impractical major" narrative around language degrees, this program's outcomes suggest Utah graduates are finding ways to monetize these skills effectively—whether through translation, education, international business, or graduate school pathways that leverage language expertise. The combination of accessible admission and strong outcomes makes this a compelling option worth serious consideration.