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Romance Languages at California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
34 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
34
Optimistic
34
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $21,609/yr (-38% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 19.6x earnings multiple (7.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #109 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs

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 $556K $548K $500K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.8x 19.6x 17.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.4x 7.3x 6.6x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 34 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,032
Out-of-state: $75,552 (7.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$35,724
-27% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,906
126% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Long Beach's Romance Languages graduates start at $21,609/yr, trailing the $34,637 national average by 38%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

With a 19.6x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 10% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Romance Languages career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $9,500 in median debt clears quickly against $21,609 in annual earnings.

A #109 ranking among 198 Romance Languages programs places California State University-Long Beach in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $21,609-to-$48,906 earnings arc over five years reflects a 126% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.

About California State University-Long Beach

California State University-Long Beach's 47% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with 34,131 students enrolled in Long Beach, CA. With 49% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Long Beach →

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

Compare this program → View all 198 schools offering Romance Languages →

Romance Languages at Other Schools

Bentley University ($66,917) University of Rhode Island ($59,220) Southern Methodist University ($57,858) Columbia University in the City of New York ($54,327) Colgate University ($53,541) College of the Holy Cross ($52,210) Bucknell University ($51,120) Illinois State University ($49,448)

Other Majors at California State University-Long Beach

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($100,178) Construction Engineering Technologies ($89,003) Computer Engineering ($79,809) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,278) Civil Engineering ($73,342) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($66,477) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($66,090) Mechanical Engineering ($60,996)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Romance Languages trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 34/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Romance Languages at California State University-Long Beach?
At 34/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Romance Languages programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Romance Languages at California State University-Long Beach?
The 58% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is California State University-Long Beach a good choice for Romance Languages despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If California State University-Long Beach's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →