Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Westfield State University

Westfield State's Romance Languages program sits at the median for Massachusetts earnings while carrying remarkably low debt—just $27,000, which places it in the 5th percentile nationally. That's about $4,400 below what students typically borrow for this degree in the state. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67, graduates owe roughly eight months of their first-year salary, a manageable burden compared to many humanities programs.

The $40,405 starting salary outperforms the national median by nearly $6,000 and ranks in the 78th percentile nationally for this field. Yes, elite schools like Bentley and Holy Cross produce higher earners, but those programs likely draw different student populations and career paths. For a public university with an 81% admission rate, Westfield delivers solid outcomes in a notoriously challenging major for earnings.

The major caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means a single investment banker or translator could skew these numbers significantly. However, the debt figures are concrete: you'll graduate owing less than students at most comparable programs. If your child is genuinely passionate about Romance languages and committed to this field, the combination of below-average debt and above-average starting pay makes this a defensible choice. Just ensure they have realistic career plans, since language degrees typically require additional credentials or strategic career positioning to maximize earnings.