Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Utah State University

Utah State's Romance Languages program starts graduates at a concerning $30,242—below both the national median ($34,497) and the state median ($35,122), ranking in just the 40th percentile among Utah programs. While that's a difficult first year, especially with $20,500 in debt to manage, the trajectory tells a different story: earnings nearly double to $57,396 by year four, a 90% jump that far outpaces typical liberal arts patterns.

That dramatic growth suggests graduates are either gaining valuable credentials after graduation or transitioning into careers where language skills command real premiums. By year four, these graduates are earning substantially more than peers from similar programs at both BYU ($40,002) and the University of Utah ($45,868), which is remarkable for a program with a 94% admission rate. The debt load is manageable—below the national average for this field—and becomes quite reasonable once earnings accelerate.

The catch is that first year. Parents should know their child will likely need financial support or additional work to bridge that gap, and the path to better earnings may require graduate school, additional certifications, or career pivoting. But if your student has the patience and resources to weather a slow start, this program's four-year outcomes actually compete well with Utah's more selective institutions.