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Romance Languages at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
42
Base Case
33
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,635/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 9.5x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #40 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 $578K $568K $514K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.7x 9.5x 8.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.2x 3.1x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 42 33

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,860
Out-of-state: $182,968 (3.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,300
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,601
5.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,275
69% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Santa Barbara's Romance Languages program produces graduates earning $35,635/yr — within striking distance of the $34,637 national average for this field.

At 9.5x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

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

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $16,601 in median debt clears quickly against $35,635 in annual earnings.

Ranked #40 out of 198 programs, University of California-Santa Barbara's Romance Languages program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $35,635 to $60,275 over five years (69% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

Admission to University of California-Santa Barbara is competitive, with 28% of applicants accepted, serving a student body of 23,205 in Santa Barbara, CA.

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

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 →

Romance Languages 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 University of California-Santa Barbara

Computer Science ($107,776) Computer Engineering ($91,387) Mechanical Engineering ($81,108) Chemical Engineering ($79,737) Economics ($66,334) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($66,099) Applied Mathematics ($59,638) Statistics ($55,110)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Romance Languages trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Santa Barbara'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 University of California-Santa Barbara rank so high for Romance Languages?
The #40 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 →