Romance Languages at Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $57,858/yr (67% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #50 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 graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $612K $597K $535K
Earnings Multiple 2.4x 2.3x 2.1x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 42 34

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$257,840
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$167,112
35% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,730
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$73,502
27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of Southern Methodist University's Romance Languages program earn $57,858/yr in their first year — 67% above the $34,637 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

An earnings multiple of 2.3x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 58% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $19,730 in median debt against $57,858 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #50 out of 198 programs, Southern Methodist University's Romance Languages program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $57,858 to $73,502 shows 27% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Southern Methodist University

With a 61% acceptance rate, Southern Methodist University is moderately selective, with a mid-sized student body of 7,106 in Dallas, TX. The average net cost of $167,112 over four years represents a 35% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Methodist 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

Romance Languages at Other Schools

Other Majors at Southern Methodist University

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 Southern Methodist University's Romance Languages program score?
This program scores 42/100 — 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.
Why does Southern Methodist University rank so high for Romance Languages?
The #50 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 →