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Foreign Languages · Romance Languages Rank #35 of 198

Romance Languagesat Colgate University

Graduates earn $53,541/yr in their first year — about 55.0% above the national Romance Languages average. Base-case 10-year earnings $636K; scenarios range from $563K to $656K depending on AI disruption.

Hamilton, NY Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
43 AVERAGE
44
Optimistic
35
Pessimistic
Earnings
$53,541
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.0x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$636K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Colgate University

Your strong earnings potential from a Colgate Romance Languages degree reflects the broader value of a highly selective liberal arts education. This program, set within a top-tier institution, cultivates nuanced communication, critical analysis, and deep cultural understanding—skills highly prized across numerous industries. While some direct language tasks are increasingly aided by AI, the human-centric skills you develop in literary analysis, cultural immersion, and advanced communication remain invaluable. Many graduates leverage this robust foundation into diverse fields like international business, marketing, consulting, or education, rather than solely pursuing traditional language-specific roles. Colgate’s strong alumni network and reputation open doors to opportunities far beyond direct translation or teaching. To maximize your post-graduation prospects, consider pairing this major with a complementary minor in a quantitative or business-related field, or pursuing internships that apply your analytical and communication skills in professional, cross-cultural settings.

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
$563K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score35/100
Earnings Multiple2.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$636K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score43/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$656K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score44/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Colgate University'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 Colgate University 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
Same state (NY)
Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
1.9x
ROI
College of the Holy Cross
MA · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
2.1x
ROI
Also at Colgate University

Other top programs at Colgate University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Colgate University, 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 Colgate University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Romance Languages at Colgate University?

A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Romance Languages. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Romance Languages careers?

With 58% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $562,829 in decade earnings vs $656,287 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Colgate University's Romance Languages program stand out?

Ranked #35 of 198 programs nationally, Colgate University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Is Colgate University a hidden gem for Romance Languages?

After financial aid, the average student pays $116,428 over four years — 57% below the $268,096 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.