Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Wheaton College

Wheaton College's Romance Languages program starts modestly but shows impressive momentum, with graduates earning $37,025 initially—about 7% above the national median for this field—and reaching nearly $48,000 by year four. That 30% earnings growth trajectory is noteworthy for humanities graduates, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means individual career paths could significantly skew these figures. The $26,650 debt burden sits just above the state median but well below the national average, translating to a manageable 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates should be able to handle.

Within Illinois, this program performs solidly at the 60th percentile, though it notably trails top performers like Illinois State ($49,448) and Northern Illinois ($40,586). The gap suggests that program reputation or alumni network strength may vary considerably across institutions, which matters for humanities degrees where connections often drive opportunities. Wheaton's 90% admission rate and strong SAT scores (1363) indicate an academically engaged student body that may help explain the earnings trajectory.

The bottom line: If your child is passionate about Romance languages and values Wheaton's educational environment, this program won't saddle them with crushing debt and shows reasonable earning potential as graduates establish themselves. Just recognize the limited sample means these numbers could shift substantially year to year, and stronger earnings outcomes exist at other Illinois schools if career earnings are the primary concern.