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Foreign Languages · Romance Languages Rank #149 of 198

Romance Languagesat Williams College

Graduates earn $37,968/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Romance Languages average. Base-case 10-year earnings $471K; scenarios range from $444K to $468K depending on AI disruption.

Williamstown, MA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
30 AT RISK
31
Optimistic
22
Pessimistic
Earnings
$37,968
1-year post-graduation
ROI
0.5x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$471K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Williams College

A Williams degree in Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics reflects a deep immersion in culture and critical thought, characteristic of an elite liberal arts education. While many graduates pursue paths directly related to language, such as teaching or translation, the value here extends far beyond those immediate roles. Your strong analytical, communication, and cross-cultural skills developed at Williams are highly prized across a broader spectrum of careers, including international relations, non-profit leadership, journalism, or even consulting, where your ability to understand complex systems and diverse perspectives is invaluable.

The career landscape for direct language roles is evolving, with automation impacting some areas. However, your advantage comes from Williams' rigorous academic environment and powerful alumni network. To truly maximize your return, consider intentionally pairing your linguistic and cultural expertise with complementary skills through internships, dual concentrations (like economics or computer science), or pre-professional advising. This strategic combination will open up more resilient and varied career opportunities, leveraging the full weight of your Williams experience.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$444K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score22/100
Earnings Multiple1.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$471K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score30/100
Earnings Multiple1.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$468K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score31/100
Earnings Multiple1.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Williams College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Romance Languages graduates typically work

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.

1
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
-0.2% 10-yr growth · 1,900 openings/yr
$77,010/yr
High
2
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
3
Interpreters and translators
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 6,900 openings/yr
$59,440/yr
Very High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Romance Languages

How Williams College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Bentley University
MA · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
1.9x
ROI
Top score
University of Rhode Island
RI · Public
53
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
9.0x
ROI
Southern Methodist University
TX · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
1.9x
ROI
Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
1.9x
ROI
Colgate University
NY · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Also at Williams College

Other top programs at Williams College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Williams College, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Romance Languages at Williams College

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Romance Languages at Williams College?

A score of 30/100 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 $444,342 in decade earnings vs $467,855 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Williams College a hidden gem for Romance Languages?

After financial aid, the average student pays $59,408 over four years — 77% below the $259,440 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.