Romance Languages & Literatures at Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
44
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,307/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 12.5x earnings multiple (3.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #25 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $604K $590K $530K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.8x 12.5x 11.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.7x 3.6x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 44 36

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$47,160
Out-of-state: $161,928 (3.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$61,368
-30% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,000
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,679
88% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $33,307/yr, Romance Languages & Literatures graduates from Indiana University-Bloomington land near the $34,637 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 12.5x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $13,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #25 out of 198 programs, Indiana University-Bloomington's Romance Languages & Literatures program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $33,307 to $62,679 over five years (88% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Indiana University-Bloomington

With 80% of applicants admitted, Indiana University-Bloomington prioritizes broad access, serving a student body of 36,571 in Bloomington, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Indiana University-Bloomington →

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

Romance Languages & Literatures at Other Schools

Other Majors at Indiana University-Bloomington

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Indiana University-Bloomington's Romance Languages & Literatures program score?
This program scores 44/100 — on the lower end for Romance Languages & Literatures. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Romance Languages & Literatures to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Romance Languages & Literatures 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 does Indiana University-Bloomington rank so high for Romance Languages & Literatures?
The #25 ranking out of 198 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →