Home › California State University-Los Angeles › Romance Languages

Romance Languages at California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
27 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
27
Optimistic
27
Base Case
24
Pessimistic
Earnings $20,433/yr (-41% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 17.5x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #164 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Romance Languages graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $475K $477K $449K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.4x 17.5x 16.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.3x 6.4x 6.0x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 27 27 24

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,252
Out-of-state: $74,792 (6.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$16,452
40% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$37,933
86% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $20,433/yr fall 41% below the $34,637 national median for Romance Languages. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 17.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 58% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #164 out of 198 programs, California State University-Los Angeles's financial outcomes for Romance Languages trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $20,433 to $37,933 over five years (86% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Los Angeles

California State University-Los Angeles has a 92% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 21,478 in Los Angeles, CA. With 66% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $16,452 over four years — 40% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Los Angeles →

Top Career Paths

Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary $77,010/yr
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580/yr
Interpreters and translators $59,440/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 198 schools offering Romance Languages →

Romance Languages at Other Schools

Bentley University ($66,917) University of Rhode Island ($59,220) Southern Methodist University ($57,858) Columbia University in the City of New York ($54,327) Colgate University ($53,541) College of the Holy Cross ($52,210) Bucknell University ($51,120) Illinois State University ($49,448)

Other Majors at California State University-Los Angeles

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($98,811) Civil Engineering ($73,178) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($63,981) Mechanical Engineering ($55,405) Food Science and Technology ($52,806) Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology ($50,428) Fire Protection ($48,289) Air Transportation ($46,267)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Romance Languages trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Los Angeles's Romance Languages program score?
This program scores 27/100 — 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.
Why are Romance Languages earnings lower at California State University-Los Angeles?
Lower starting pay at California State University-Los Angeles may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →