Romance Languages & Literatures at William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
39 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
39
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,260/yr (16% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 5.4x earnings multiple (2.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #70 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Romance Languages & Literatures graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $543K $537K $492K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 5.4x 5.4x 4.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.7x 2.7x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 39 39 29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$100,160
Out-of-state: $197,648 (2.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$90,116
10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,703
41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

William & Mary's Romance Languages & Literatures graduates start at $40,260/yr — above the $34,637 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 5.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Romance Languages & Literatures's typical career paths, with 58% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,500 represents roughly 6 months of the $40,260 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #70 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs, William & Mary scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $40,260 to $56,703 over five years — a 41% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About William & Mary

Admission to William & Mary is competitive, with 33% of applicants accepted, enrolling 6,949 students in Williamsburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at William & Mary →

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 & Literatures at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Romance Languages & Literatures at William & Mary?
A score of 39/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Romance Languages & Literatures. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Romance Languages & Literatures careers?
With 58% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $491,877 in decade earnings vs $543,453 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →