Romance Languagesat University of Virginia-Main Campus
Graduates earn $38,269/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Romance Languages average. Base-case 10-year earnings $587K; scenarios range from $528K to $600K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Virginia
Your degree from a top-tier institution like UVA in Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics provides a robust foundation, even in a field often perceived as less directly vocational. The strong academic rigor and UVA's reputation mean you're developing critical thinking, communication, and cultural fluency skills highly valued by employers across various sectors, not just those explicitly tied to language. While the career paths you see on this page are common, many graduates leverage these skills in international relations, non-profit work, publishing, or even government roles, particularly with D.C.'s proximity. The program's quality and the strong alumni network help open doors. Given the evolving landscape for language-specific roles, your real-world value will increasingly come from blending your linguistic and cultural expertise with other marketable skills, making you more adaptable. Consider a minor or certificate in a complementary field like business, public policy, or data science to maximize your career flexibility.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Virginia's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Romance Languages
How University of Virginia stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Virginia
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Virginia, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Romance Languages offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Romance Languages trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Romance Languages at University of Virginia
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Romance Languages at University of Virginia-Main Campus?
A score of 42/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Romance Languages. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $527,524 in decade earnings vs $600,140 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.