Romance Languages 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

Program Analysis

This degree from the University of South Carolina-Columbia places you in a distinct regional market. While a Romance Languages background offers rich cultural insights and strong analytical skills, the local economy in South Carolina may not generate the same demand for specialized language professionals as major international hubs. Many graduates find fulfilling careers in education, both in K-12 and postsecondary settings, or in translation, often within public sector roles where compensation structures can differ from national averages. Furthermore, the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence poses a significant challenge, particularly for roles involving direct language translation, which AI can increasingly handle. Success in this field often means leveraging your cultural fluency and nuanced communication skills in contexts where human understanding is irreplaceable, such as high-stakes interpreting or culturally-informed content creation. To maximize your prospects, consider pairing your language expertise with a complementary field like business, technology, or international relations to open doors to more diverse and robust career paths.

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 $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

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

Romance Languages at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of South Carolina-Columbia

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Romance Languages at University of South Carolina-Columbia?
A score of 33/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Romance Languages. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Romance Languages 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 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 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 →