Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Wofford College

Wofford's Romance Languages program outperforms most comparable programs despite language studies' reputation for modest starting salaries. First-year earnings of $39,499 beat 74% of programs nationwide and 60% in South Carolina—notably stronger than larger programs at College of Charleston and USC-Columbia. The debt load of $25,269 comes in below both state and national medians, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 that many liberal arts programs struggle to achieve.

The trajectory here matters more than the starting point. Earnings jump 53% by year four to over $60,000, suggesting graduates develop marketable skills that extend beyond language proficiency itself. This kind of growth often indicates students are leveraging their degrees in business, education, or international roles rather than purely academic paths. For a selective liberal arts college (average SAT of 1297), these outcomes align with what parents should expect: competitive but not spectacular starting salaries that improve substantially with experience.

The major caveat is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means one or two high earners could skew the data significantly. But if your child is already drawn to Wofford's close-knit environment and language study, the financial picture shouldn't dissuade them. Just understand they'll likely need to be strategic about internships and career planning to reach that four-year earnings level.