Linguistics at Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
37
Optimistic
36
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,155/yr (34% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 7.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #19 of 79 Linguistic & Comparative programs Top 25%

Program Analysis

The strong earnings performance for this program at Western Illinois suggests a unique blend of skill development and career placement, particularly for a university in a smaller regional market. While you might expect graduates to stay locally, the data indicates many likely leverage their critical thinking, analytical, and cross-cultural communication skills in more specialized roles, often in larger metropolitan areas or within government and education sectors. This program appears to effectively prepare students for fields like social science research or specialized teaching that demand advanced linguistic insight, rather than purely generalist roles. Given the "Very High" AI risk for aspects of this field, focus your studies on developing niche expertise, such as computational linguistics, data analysis, or highly specialized translation/interpretation, to future-proof your career.

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 $464K $467K $442K
Earnings Multiple 7.8x 7.8x 7.4x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 28%
DegreeOutlook Score 37 36 28

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$59,808
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$46,368
22% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$29,875
9.6 months of Year 1 earnings

About Western Illinois University

Western Illinois University accepts 75% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 4,939 students in Macomb, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Illinois 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
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Linguistics at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Illinois University

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Western Illinois University's Linguistics program score?
This program scores 36/100 — on the lower end for Linguistics. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Linguistics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Linguistics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Western Illinois University rank so high for Linguistics?
The #19 ranking out of 79 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →