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Romance Languages & Literatures at Portland State University

Portland, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
26 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
26
Optimistic
26
Base Case
20
Pessimistic
Earnings $27,500/yr (-21% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 10.4x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #172 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs

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 $463K $466K $441K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.3x 10.4x 9.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.8x 3.9x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 26 26 20

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,952
Out-of-state: $120,552 (3.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,728
-15% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
8.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$39,211
43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $27,500/yr fall 21% below the $34,637 national median for Romance Languages & Literatures. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Romance Languages & Literatures programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Romance Languages & Literatures's typical career paths, with 58% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $19,500 represents roughly 9 months of the $27,500 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #172 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs, Portland State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $27,500 to $39,211 over five years — a 43% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Portland State University

Portland State University has a 91% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 13,619 students in Portland, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Portland State University →

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

Compare this program → View all 198 schools offering Romance Languages & Literatures →

Romance Languages & Literatures at Other Schools

Bentley University ($66,917) University of Rhode Island ($59,220) Southern Methodist University ($57,858) Columbia University in the City of New York ($54,327) Colgate University ($53,541) College of the Holy Cross ($52,210) Bucknell University ($51,120) Illinois State University ($49,448)

Other Majors at Portland State University

Computer Engineering ($87,259) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,853) Computer Science ($78,669) Mechanical Engineering ($73,079) Civil Engineering ($67,509) Physics ($62,749) Accounting and Related Services ($58,069) Finance and Financial Management Services ($52,859)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Romance Languages & Literatures trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Romance Languages & Literatures at Portland State University?
A score of 26/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Romance Languages & Literatures. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Romance Languages & Literatures careers?
With 58% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $441,091 in decade earnings vs $462,685 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Romance Languages & Literatures from Portland State University?
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →