Romance Languagesat CUNY City College
Graduates earn $23,932/yr in their first year — about 31.0% below the national Romance Languages average. Base-case 10-year earnings $624K; scenarios range from $554K to $642K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at CUNY City College
The earnings data for Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at CUNY City College suggests a highly localized and specialized career trajectory. While New York City is a global hub where language skills are invaluable across many sectors—from international business and diplomacy to publishing and the arts—many graduates often gravitate towards roles in public education or non-profit organizations. These vital careers, while deeply rewarding, typically offer more modest starting salaries, especially within the competitive NYC landscape. The "Very High" AI risk also signals a need for strategic planning in fields like translation. To maximize your financial outlook, consider complementing your language expertise with a minor or practical skills in a high-demand area like data analytics, digital marketing, or project management. This dual focus can open doors to more lucrative roles in diverse industries.
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 CUNY City 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 CUNY City College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at CUNY City College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at CUNY City 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 CUNY City College
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Romance Languages at CUNY City College?
A score of 41/100 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 $553,973 in decade earnings vs $642,204 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Romance Languages from CUNY City College?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Is CUNY City College a hidden gem for Romance Languages?
After financial aid, the average student pays $13,944 over four years — 53% below the $29,360 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.