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Romance Languages & Literatures at California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
27 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
27
Optimistic
27
Base Case
24
Pessimistic
Earnings $20,433/yr (-41% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 17.5x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #164 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 & Literatures graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $475K $477K $449K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.4x 17.5x 16.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.3x 6.4x 6.0x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 27 27 24

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,252
Out-of-state: $74,792 (6.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$16,452
40% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$37,933
86% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $20,433/yr fall 41% below the $34,637 national median for Romance Languages & Literatures. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 17.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 58% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #164 out of 198 programs, California State University-Los Angeles's financial outcomes for Romance Languages & Literatures trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $20,433 to $37,933 over five years (86% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Los Angeles

California State University-Los Angeles has a 92% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 21,478 in Los Angeles, CA. With 66% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $16,452 over four years — 40% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Los Angeles →

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 & Literatures →

Romance Languages & Literatures 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-Los Angeles

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($98,811) Civil Engineering ($73,178) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($63,981) Mechanical Engineering ($55,405) Food Science and Technology ($52,806) Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology ($50,428) Fire Protection ($48,289) Air Transportation ($46,267)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Romance Languages & Literatures trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does California State University-Los Angeles's Romance Languages & Literatures program score?
This program scores 27/100 — on the lower end for Romance Languages & Literatures. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Romance Languages & Literatures to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Romance Languages & Literatures careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 58% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Romance Languages & Literatures earnings lower at California State University-Los Angeles?
Lower starting pay at California State University-Los Angeles may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →