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Romance Languages & Literatures at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
34
Optimistic
33
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings $21,411/yr (-38% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 12.7x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #132 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 $664K $643K $568K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.1x 12.7x 11.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.8x 4.6x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 33 30

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,752
Out-of-state: $139,736 (4.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$98,128
-93% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,590
12.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,164
181% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $21,411 place University of South Carolina-Columbia below the $34,637 national median for Romance Languages & Literatures — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.7x 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 15% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,590 against $21,411/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.1 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #132 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $60,164 show a 181% jump from the $21,411 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of South Carolina-Columbia

A 61% admission rate makes University of South Carolina-Columbia accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with 28,113 students enrolled in Columbia, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Columbia →

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 South Carolina-Columbia

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,161) Chemical Engineering ($75,680) Computer Engineering ($73,982) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($73,872) Mechanical Engineering ($72,370) International Business ($70,992) Statistics ($69,543) Civil Engineering ($69,424)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Romance Languages & Literatures trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Romance Languages & Literatures at University of South Carolina-Columbia?
A score of 33/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Romance Languages & Literatures. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Romance Languages & Literatures at University of South Carolina-Columbia worth the student debt?
Median debt of $22,590 against $21,411/yr starting salary means roughly 1.1 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
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 $567,835 in decade earnings vs $664,250 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Romance Languages & Literatures from University of South Carolina-Columbia?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →