Linguistics at Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
36
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,856/yr (25% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI
12.5x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Linguistics graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $473K | $475K | $448K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.4x | 12.5x | 11.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.1x | 4.1x | 3.9x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 43% | 38% | 28% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 37 | 36 | 28 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,024
Out-of-state: $116,168 (4.1x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,578
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,035
23% growth from Year 1
About Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University accepts 68% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with a mid-sized student body of 16,115 in Murfreesboro, TN.
See all programs and financial aid at Middle Tennessee State University →Top Career Paths
Social scientists and related workers, all other
$100,340/yr
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$78,270/yr
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$77,010/yr
Compare & Explore
Linguistics at Other Schools
Other Majors at Middle Tennessee State University
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Middle Tennessee State University's Linguistics program score?
This program scores 36/100 — on the lower end for Linguistics. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Linguistics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Linguistics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →