Romance Languages at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
46 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
46
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,720/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 12.7x earnings multiple (3.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #17 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs Top 10%

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 $581K $570K $516K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.0x 12.7x 11.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.6x 3.5x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 46 46 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,820
Out-of-state: $162,412 (3.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,712
-51% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
6.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,761
70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $35,720 track close to the $34,637 national median for Romance Languages programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

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 programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Romance Languages's typical career paths, with 58% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $35,720 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #17 of 198 programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison's Romance Languages program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $60,761 show a 70% jump from the $35,720 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Wisconsin-Madison

With a 43% acceptance rate, University of Wisconsin-Madison is moderately selective, one of the larger campuses at 35,665 students in Madison, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Madison →

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

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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 at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
A score of 46/100 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 $515,754 in decade earnings vs $581,425 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →