Linguistic & Comparative at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
27 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
28
Optimistic
27
Base Case
23
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,921/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 8.2x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #59 of 79 Linguistic & Comparative programs

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 $528K $524K $483K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.3x 8.2x 7.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.8x 3.8x 3.5x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 28%
DegreeOutlook Score 28 27 23

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$64,016
Out-of-state: $138,004 (3.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$60,804
5% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
9.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,264
86% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $25,921/yr, Linguistic & Comparative graduates from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign land near the $27,797 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

At 8.2x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,500 debt-to-$25,921 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #59 out of 79 programs, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's financial outcomes for Linguistic & Comparative trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $25,921 to $48,264 over five years (86% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 44% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, serving a student body of 34,623 in Champaign, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign →

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

Linguistic & Comparative at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Linguistic & Comparative program score?
This program scores 27/100 — on the lower end for Linguistic & Comparative. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Linguistic & Comparative to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Linguistic & Comparative careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →