Romance Languagesat Augustana College
Graduates earn $24,208/yr in their first year — about 30.0% below the national Romance Languages average. Base-case 10-year earnings $582K; scenarios range from $524K to $594K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Augustana College
The earnings profile for Romance Languages at Augustana College reflects a complex interplay of regional labor markets, the evolving nature of language careers, and the program's liberal arts foundation. While your degree will cultivate invaluable critical thinking and cultural fluency, the Quad Cities region isn't a primary hub for high-paying international business or diplomatic roles that often elevate salaries for language specialists elsewhere. Many graduates find fulfilling careers in local K-12 education, community interpreting, or other roles where regional compensation structures are more modest.
Moreover, the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence are profoundly reshaping fields like translation and interpretation, impacting demand and entry-level salaries. To truly thrive financially with this major, you'll need to develop highly specialized skills that AI cannot replicate. Consider intentionally pairing your language studies with a complementary field like international business, marketing, computer science, or a pre-professional track, or plan for graduate studies to specialize in areas where deep human expertise and cultural nuance remain indispensable.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Augustana College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Romance Languages
How Augustana College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Augustana College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Augustana College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Romance Languages offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Romance Languages trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Romance Languages at Augustana College
How does Augustana College's Romance Languages program score?
This program scores 18/100 — on the lower end for Romance Languages. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do Augustana College Romance Languages graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.1x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
How vulnerable is Romance Languages to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Romance Languages careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 58% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Romance Languages earnings lower at Augustana College?
Lower starting pay at Augustana College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
How affordable is Romance Languages at Augustana College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $199,336, but the average net cost is $49,748 — a 75% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.