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Linguistic & Comparative at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $31,713/yr (14% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 8.2x earnings multiple (3.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #39 of 79 Linguistic & Comparative programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Linguistic & Comparative graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$437K	$444K	$424K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	8.1x	8.2x	7.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.4x	3.5x	3.3x
Probability of Field Employment	43%	38%	28%
DegreeOutlook Score	32	32	24

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$53,936

Out-of-state: $127,896 (3.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,436

-34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,612

7.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $31,713 per year, Linguistic & Comparative graduates from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville earn slightly above the $27,797 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.2x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Linguistic & Comparative's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 3% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,612 represents roughly 8 months of the $31,713 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #39 of 79 Linguistic & Comparative programs, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville accepts 46% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, one of the larger campuses at 28,763 students in Knoxville, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville →

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

View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Linguistic & Comparative at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

A score of 32/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Linguistic & Comparative. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Linguistic & Comparative careers?

With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $424,452 in decade earnings vs $437,066 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →