Romance Languages and Linguistics: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Students in this program explore the rich linguistic and literary traditions of Romance-speaking cultures, focusing on languages derived from Latin, including Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian. The curriculum emphasizes deep analytical engagement with language structures, historical development, literary expression, and cultural contexts across the global Romance-speaking world.
- Language Acquisition and Proficiency: Advanced study in the grammar, syntax, and phonology of one or more Romance languages, with emphasis on achieving fluency and cultural nuance in speaking, writing, and comprehension.
- Literary Analysis: In-depth examination of canonical and contemporary texts from Romance-speaking regions, exploring narrative techniques, thematic evolution, and sociohistorical influences on literature.
- Historical Linguistics: Investigation into the origins, evolution, and divergence of Romance languages from Latin, including sound changes, lexical developments, and regional dialect formation.
- Applied Linguistics: Practical application of linguistic theory to real-world contexts such as language teaching, translation, computational linguistics, and language policy.
- Cultural Studies: Exploration of the social, political, and artistic dimensions of Romance-speaking societies, examining how language shapes identity, power, and cross-cultural communication.
- Comparative Philology: Systematic comparison of linguistic features across Romance languages to uncover shared roots, divergent paths, and patterns of linguistic change over time.
Romance Languages and Linguistics Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Romance Languages and Linguistics Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Romance Languages and Linguistics degrees, including Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education and Interpreters and Translators. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,147,070 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1124 | $77,010 | $47,090 - $134,960 | 21,170 | N/A |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2031 | $64,580 | $47,330 - $104,670 | 1,072,540 | N/A |
| Interpreters and Translators 27-3091 | $59,440 | $35,630 - $99,830 | 53,360 | $28.58 |
Romance Languages and Linguistics Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $48,357 in Mississippi to $92,850 in California—a 92% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Rhode Island. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,147,070 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Romance Languages and Linguistics by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 12 institutions offering Romance Languages and Linguistics programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Romance Languages and Linguistics is found at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill (63 graduates), University of Chicago (UChicago) (28 graduates), Ohio State University, Main Campus (25 graduates), Rice University (9 graduates), and University of Minnesota (UMN), Twin Cities (6 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 148 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
63 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
28 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Rice University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Houston, Texas | Private | rice.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Master's
|
4 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| Indiana University (IUSE) |
Other Award
|
3 | New Albany, Indiana | Public | ius.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Bryn Mawr College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania | Private | brynmawr.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Romance Languages and Linguistics programs
How much can I earn with a Romance Languages and Linguistics degree?
Salaries for Romance Languages and Linguistics graduates vary by role and location. Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $77,010 annually, while Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn around $64,580. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $92,850 compared to $48,357 in Mississippi. Approximately 1,147,070 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Romance Languages and Linguistics programs?
Currently 12 accredited institutions offer Romance Languages and Linguistics degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill (63 graduates), University of Chicago (UChicago) (28 graduates), and Ohio State University, Main Campus (25 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Romance Languages and Linguistics growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 325 in 2010 to a peak of 224 in 2020, before declining slightly to 148 in 2023-24. This represents a 54% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Romance Languages and Linguistics degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, and Interpreters and Translators. Related occupations employ approximately 1,147,070 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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