Linguistics 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
32
Optimistic
32
Base Case
24
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)
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 | $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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,612
7.8 months of Year 1 earnings
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
Compare & Explore
Linguistics at Other Schools
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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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Linguistics at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?
A score of 32/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Linguistics. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Linguistics 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 →