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Linguistic & Comparative at Reed College

Portland, OR · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
27 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
27
Optimistic
27
Base Case
22
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,561/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 1.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #61 of 79 Linguistic & Comparative programs

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 $407K $417K $405K
Earnings Multiple 1.5x 1.6x 1.5x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 28%
DegreeOutlook Score 27 27 22

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$268,080
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$159,804
40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,758
9.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Reed College's Linguistic & Comparative program produces graduates earning $25,561/yr — within striking distance of the $27,797 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 1.6x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,758 debt-to-$25,561 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #61 out of 79 programs, Reed College's financial outcomes for Linguistic & Comparative trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Reed College

Admission to Reed College is competitive, with 27% of applicants accepted, a smaller institution with 1,407 students in Portland, OR. The average net cost of $159,804 over four years represents a 40% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Reed College →

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

Compare this program → View all 79 schools offering Linguistic & Comparative →

Linguistic & Comparative at Other Schools

James Madison University ($45,122) Virginia Military Institute ($43,923) George Mason University ($40,105) Stephen F Austin State University ($38,375) Northern Arizona University ($38,177) University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus ($37,859) Ashford University ($37,853) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ($37,389)

Other Majors at Reed College

Economics ($53,110) Psychology, General ($32,634) Biology, General ($25,596) English Language and Literature, General ($15,790)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Linguistic & Comparative trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Reed College's Linguistic & Comparative program score?
This program scores 27/100 — on the lower end for Linguistic & Comparative. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Linguistic & Comparative to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Linguistic & Comparative careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% 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 →