Romance Languages at DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
31 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
31
Optimistic
31
Base Case
22
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,207/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #141 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 $536K $531K $487K
Earnings Multiple 3.0x 3.0x 2.7x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 31 31 22

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$177,840
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$116,564
34% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
8.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,163
41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

DePaul University's Romance Languages graduates start at $39,207/yr — above the $34,637 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 3.0x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 58% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$39,207 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #141 out of 198 programs, DePaul University's financial outcomes for Romance Languages trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $39,207 to $55,163 shows 41% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About DePaul University

A 74% acceptance rate means DePaul University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 14,283 in Chicago, IL. The average net cost of $116,564 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at DePaul University →

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 DePaul University

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 DePaul University's Romance Languages program score?
This program scores 31/100 — 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 →