Linguistic & Comparative at George Mason University

Fairfax, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
42
Base Case
33
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,105/yr (44% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 9.3x earnings multiple (3.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #7 of 79 Linguistic & Comparative programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Linguistic & Comparative graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $514K $512K $474K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.3x 9.3x 8.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.3x 3.2x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 28%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 42 33

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$55,260
Out-of-state: $157,588 (3.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,148
-32% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,693
29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of George Mason University's Linguistic & Comparative program earn $40,105/yr in their first year — 44% above the $27,797 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.3x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Linguistic & Comparative's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

At $19,500 in median debt against $40,105 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #7 of 79 programs, George Mason University's Linguistic & Comparative program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $40,105 to $51,693 over five years — a 29% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About George Mason University

George Mason University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 27,083 in Fairfax, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at George Mason University →

Top Career Paths

Social scientists and related workers, all other $100,340/yr
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary $78,270/yr
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary $77,010/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Linguistic & Comparative at George Mason University?
A score of 42/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Linguistic & Comparative. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Linguistic & Comparative careers?
With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $473,947 in decade earnings vs $514,183 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →