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Romance Languages & Literatures at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,508/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 15.2x earnings multiple (3.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #38 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 & Literatures graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $554K $546K $498K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.4x 15.2x 13.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.5x 3.5x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 43 35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,956
Out-of-state: $157,320 (3.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,932
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,379
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,230
70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $32,508/yr, Romance Languages & Literatures graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill land near the $34,637 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Romance Languages & Literatures programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Romance Languages & Literatures's typical career paths, with 58% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $13,379 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #38 of 198 nationally, this is a top-5% Romance Languages & Literatures program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $55,230 show a 70% jump from the $32,508 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

A 19% acceptance rate puts University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in competitive admissions territory, with 20,556 students enrolled in Chapel Hill, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill →

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 & Literatures →

Romance Languages & Literatures 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Computer Science ($90,293) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($85,618) Information Science/Studies ($75,834) Applied Mathematics ($75,105) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,594) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($70,561) Economics ($65,344) Physics ($62,647)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Romance Languages & Literatures 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Romance Languages & Literatures at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Romance Languages & Literatures. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Romance Languages & Literatures careers?
With 58% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $498,386 in decade earnings vs $553,801 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Romance Languages & Literatures program stand out?
Ranked #38 of 198 programs nationally, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →