Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Wells College

Romance languages programs in New York show enormous variation, with top earners pulling in $54,000 while others hover around $37,000—and Wells appears to track with the state median based on comparable programs. At an estimated $37,442 in first-year earnings, graduates would be earning roughly what similar programs across New York typically produce, though that's still below what you'd see from the state's elite private universities or flagship public institutions.

The debt picture looks manageable by current standards. Similar programs at Wells' peer institutions suggest graduates leave with around $19,625 in loans—below both the state and national medians for this major. That creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, meaning the first year's salary would cover about twice the borrowed amount. For a humanities degree at a small private college serving nearly half its students from lower-income backgrounds, that's actually a reasonable outcome.

The real question is post-graduation trajectory. Romance languages degrees often serve as launching pads for graduate school, teaching, or careers that value linguistic and cultural skills but may start at modest salaries. If your child plans to pursue additional degrees or work in education, nonprofit, or international sectors, these estimated figures represent a workable foundation. But if they're expecting immediate financial returns, peer programs suggest they'll be starting well below what business or STEM graduates earn—and it may take years to catch up.