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Foreign Languages · Romance Languages Rank #134 of 198

Romance Languagesat Bates College

Graduates earn $40,395/yr in their first year — about 17.0% above the national Romance Languages average. Base-case 10-year earnings $481K; scenarios range from $452K to $480K depending on AI disruption.

Lewiston, ME Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
32 AT RISK
33
Optimistic
23
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,395
1-year post-graduation
ROI
0.6x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$481K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Bates College

Your Bates degree in Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics comes from an elite liberal arts institution, renowned for cultivating sharp critical thinking and communication skills. While the direct career paths listed often lead to teaching or translation, Bates graduates frequently parlay their deep cultural understanding and analytical abilities into diverse roles within international organizations, publishing, marketing, or even law and business, often through further education or by combining their language studies with other disciplines. The strong alumni network and robust career services at a school like Bates are crucial for opening these broader doors, especially given Lewiston's regional job market isn't a major hub for international business. The "Very High" AI risk for language-centric roles underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. To maximize your options, consider pairing your Romance Languages studies with a minor or second major in a field like economics, data science, or environmental studies to broaden your career horizons.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$452K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score23/100
Earnings Multiple1.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$481K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score32/100
Earnings Multiple1.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$480K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score33/100
Earnings Multiple1.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Bates College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Romance Languages graduates typically work

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.

1
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
-0.2% 10-yr growth · 1,900 openings/yr
$77,010/yr
High
2
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
3
Interpreters and translators
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 6,900 openings/yr
$59,440/yr
Very High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Romance Languages

How Bates College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Bentley University
MA · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
1.9x
ROI
Top score
University of Rhode Island
RI · Public
53
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
9.0x
ROI
Southern Methodist University
TX · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
1.9x
ROI
Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
1.9x
ROI
Colgate University
NY · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Also at Bates College

Other top programs at Bates College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Bates 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Romance Languages at Bates College

How does Bates College's Romance Languages program score?

This program scores 32/100 — on the lower end for Romance Languages. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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.

How affordable is Romance Languages at Bates College after financial aid?

Sticker price is $253,912, but the average net cost is $122,812 — a 52% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.