Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Walla Walla University

Walla Walla's Romance Languages certificate shows unusually strong first-year earnings at $52,532—nearly $16,000 above the national median and landing in the 95th percentile nationally. That's remarkable for a humanities credential, particularly one that typically sees lower starting salaries. The $27,000 in median debt translates to a 0.51 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates could feasibly pay off their loans in about half a year's salary if they committed aggressively to that goal.

The catch? This data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making it statistically shaky. With only two schools in Washington offering this certificate, the state comparison doesn't tell us much—your child could literally be looking at data from just a handful of people. The strong earnings might reflect a few well-connected graduates or specific local employment opportunities rather than what most students should expect.

For an anxious parent, here's the practical read: if your student is pursuing this certificate as a complement to another degree or career path (which is typically how certificates work), the debt level is manageable. But don't bank on that $52,000 starting salary—the small sample size means actual outcomes could vary dramatically. Ask the program directly about placement rates and what jobs recent graduates actually landed.