Romance Languages & Literatures at Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
33
Optimistic
33
Base Case
25
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,569/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 8.8x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #128 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 $519K $516K $477K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.9x 8.8x 8.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.2x 6.2x 5.7x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 33 33 25

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$58,512
Out-of-state: $83,280 (6.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$68,384
-17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
10.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,685
57% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $31,569/yr, roughly in line with the $34,637 national median for Romance Languages & Literatures. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Romance Languages & Literatures's typical career paths, with 58% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 10 months of the $31,569 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #128 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs, Grand Valley State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $49,685 show a 57% jump from the $31,569 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University accepts 95% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 19,073 students in Allendale, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Grand Valley State 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 & Literatures at Other Schools

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Romance Languages & Literatures at Grand Valley State University?
A score of 33/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Romance Languages & Literatures. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Romance Languages & Literatures careers?
With 58% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $476,708 in decade earnings vs $519,328 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →