Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Western Washington University

Western Washington's Romance Languages program starts graduates at just $26,557—well below both the national median ($34,497) and most other Washington programs. But here's what matters: earnings jump 66% by year four to $44,176, which actually exceeds the national median and puts graduates ahead of peers from more expensive private universities like Seattle University and Gonzaga. Among Washington's 13 Romance Languages programs, this ranks solidly in the middle (40th percentile), suggesting the slow start isn't unique to Western Washington but reflects regional market conditions for language graduates.

The manageable debt load of $19,121 is below both state and national medians, which softens the blow of those first lean years. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72, graduates face less than a year's salary in loans—reasonable given the significant earning trajectory. The challenge is making it through those initial years when earnings are genuinely tight, but the four-year outcome shows clear improvement.

For families comfortable with a longer-term investment timeline and willing to support their student through an entry-level period, this program delivers respectable mid-career earnings at below-average cost. The key question is whether your student has a financial cushion for those first couple years post-graduation.