Romance Languages & Literatures at University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
31
Optimistic
30
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings $24,453/yr (-29% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 10.1x earnings multiple (3.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #147 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 $586K $574K $519K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.3x 10.1x 9.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.3x 3.2x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 31 30 26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$56,680
Out-of-state: $179,788 (3.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,828
3% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,691
8.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,555
123% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $24,453/yr fall 29% below the $34,637 national median for Romance Languages & Literatures. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 10.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 58% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $17,691 debt-to-$24,453 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #147 out of 198 programs, University of California-Riverside's financial outcomes for Romance Languages & Literatures trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $24,453 to $54,555 over five years (123% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Riverside

With a 63% acceptance rate, University of California-Riverside is moderately selective, serving a student body of 22,644 in Riverside, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 47% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Riverside →

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 & Literatures at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of California-Riverside

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 University of California-Riverside's Romance Languages & Literatures program score?
This program scores 30/100 — on the lower end for Romance Languages & Literatures. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Romance Languages & Literatures to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Romance Languages & Literatures 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 are Romance Languages & Literatures earnings lower at University of California-Riverside?
Lower starting pay at University of California-Riverside may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →