Linguistics at West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
41
Base Case
33
Pessimistic
Earnings
$32,684/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI
13.6x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Linguistics graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $530K | $526K | $484K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.7x | 13.6x | 12.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.8x | 4.8x | 4.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 43% | 38% | 28% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 41 | 41 | 33 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,592
Out-of-state: $109,440 (4.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,916
7.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,800
58% growth from Year 1
About West Virginia University
West Virginia University accepts 86% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 17,705 in Morgantown, WV.
See all programs and financial aid at West Virginia University →Top Career Paths
Social scientists and related workers, all other
$100,340/yr
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$78,270/yr
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$77,010/yr
Compare & Explore
Linguistics at Other Schools
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Explore the Trade Alternative
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 Linguistics at West Virginia University?
A score of 41/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Linguistics. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Linguistics careers?
With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $484,091 in decade earnings vs $529,991 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes West Virginia University's Linguistics program stand out?
Ranked #11 of 79 programs nationally, West Virginia University 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 →