Romance Languages at Central College

Pella, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
27 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
27
Optimistic
27
Base Case
20
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,211/yr (-13% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 5.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #166 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 $429K $437K $420K
Earnings Multiple 5.1x 5.2x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 27 27 20

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$83,952
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$89,412
-7% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
10.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $30,211 track close to the $34,637 national median for Romance Languages programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

At 5.2x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 58% task exposure — and the 2% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$30,211 income ratio translates to about 11 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #166 out of 198 programs, Central College's financial outcomes for Romance Languages trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Central College

Central College has a 79% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 1,062 students in Pella, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Central College →

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 at Other Schools

Other Majors at Central College

Consider the Trade Route?

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

How does Central College's Romance Languages program score?
This program scores 27/100 — on the lower end for Romance Languages. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Romance Languages to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Romance Languages 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →