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Foreign Languages · Romance Languages Rank #53 of 198

Romance Languagesat Illinois State University

Graduates earn $49,448/yr in their first year — about 43.0% above the national Romance Languages average. Base-case 10-year earnings $521K; scenarios range from $480K to $525K depending on AI disruption.

Normal, IL Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
41 AVERAGE
42
Optimistic
33
Pessimistic
Earnings
$49,448
1-year post-graduation
ROI
6.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$521K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Illinois State University

You're seeing strong early career outcomes for Romance Languages at Illinois State, likely driven by the university's robust College of Education and its deep ties to K-12 school districts across Illinois. While Normal isn't a major international hub, the consistent demand for qualified foreign language teachers, particularly Spanish, in public schools provides a reliable career pipeline for graduates. Many programs here emphasize practical application, often integrating teaching certification or professional translation skills directly into the curriculum. This practical focus, coupled with ISU's regional reputation, helps graduates secure stable, well-compensated roles in education or public service across the state. To maximize your potential, actively pursue opportunities for dual certification or internships that align with specific career paths.

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
$480K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score33/100
Earnings Multiple7.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$521K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple8.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$525K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple8.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Illinois State 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 Illinois State 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
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 Illinois State University

Other top programs at Illinois State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Illinois State 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 Illinois State University

How does Illinois State University's Romance Languages program score?

This program scores 41/100 — 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.