Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $49,448 put Illinois State University's Romance Languages & Literatures program 43% above the national median of $34,637 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
At 8.1x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.
AI risk is moderate — 58% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $49,448 far exceeding the $23,750 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #53 out of 198 programs, Illinois State University's Romance Languages & Literatures offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.