Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Washington & Jefferson College

At $19,700 one year after graduation, Washington & Jefferson's Romance Languages program produces earnings less than half the Pennsylvania state median of $34,172—placing it in the bottom 10% statewide. This is particularly striking given that Pennsylvania hosts strong language programs: Bucknell graduates earn $51,120, and even the state median significantly exceeds W&J's outcomes. The $27,000 debt load isn't exceptionally high by itself, but paired with these earnings, it creates a debt-to-income ratio of 1.37—meaning graduates owe more than a full year's salary.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these figures could shift dramatically with a larger sample. A few graduates pursuing unpaid internships or graduate school could skew the numbers downward. Still, the gap between W&J and comparable Pennsylvania colleges is too large to dismiss entirely. At peer institutions like Gettysburg ($44,068) and Dickinson ($39,694), language majors earn more than double what W&J graduates report.

For families considering this program, the current data suggests significant financial risk. Unless your student has specific reasons to attend W&J—particular faculty relationships, substantial financial aid reducing that debt burden, or graduate school plans where first-year earnings matter less—Pennsylvania offers numerous stronger alternatives for language study at similar liberal arts colleges.