Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Villanova University

Villanova's Romance Languages program delivers earnings that should genuinely surprise skeptics of humanities degrees. With first-year earnings of $45,088 jumping to $69,309 by year four, graduates here earn 31% more than the national median and substantially outpace Pennsylvania's typical outcomes for language majors. Among PA's 59 programs, this ranks in the 80th percentile—trailing only elite liberal arts colleges like Bucknell and Franklin & Marshall. The $27,000 debt load, meanwhile, sits below both state and national averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 that's far more manageable than most humanities programs achieve.

The dramatic 54% earnings growth over four years suggests these graduates are either accessing career-advancing opportunities or landing in fields where Romance language skills command premium compensation—possibly international business, translation, or consulting roles where Villanova's strong alumni network helps. That said, the sample size here is small (under 30 graduates), so individual outcomes vary more than these numbers suggest. A few high earners could be pulling the median up significantly.

For families willing to invest in a selective humanities program, this looks like one of the better bets. The combination of modest debt, strong early earnings, and exceptional growth trajectory suggests Villanova's career services and alumni connections are delivering real value beyond the classroom.