Romance Languages at Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
38
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,658/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 8.4x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #72 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs Top 50%

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 $541K $535K $491K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.5x 8.4x 7.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.1x 3.1x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 38 29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$63,952
Out-of-state: $173,488 (3.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$83,004
-30% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
9.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,726
53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $35,658/yr, Romance Languages graduates from Michigan State University land near the $34,637 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Romance Languages's typical career paths, with 58% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 9 months of the $35,658 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #72 of 198 Romance Languages programs, Michigan State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $54,726 show a 53% jump from the $35,658 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Michigan State University

With 84% of applicants admitted, Michigan State University prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 40,243 students in East Lansing, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Michigan 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 at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Romance Languages at Michigan State University?
A score of 38/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Romance Languages. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Romance Languages careers?
With 58% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $490,563 in decade earnings vs $541,364 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →