Romance Languages & Literatures at Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $57,858/yr (67% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #50 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs Top 25%

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 $612K $597K $535K
Earnings Multiple 2.4x 2.3x 2.1x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 42 34

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$257,840
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$167,112
35% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,730
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$73,502
27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of Southern Methodist University's Romance Languages & Literatures program earn $57,858/yr in their first year — 67% above the $34,637 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

An earnings multiple of 2.3x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $19,730 in median debt against $57,858 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #50 out of 198 programs, Southern Methodist University's Romance Languages & Literatures program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $57,858 to $73,502 shows 27% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Southern Methodist University

With a 61% acceptance rate, Southern Methodist University is moderately selective, with a mid-sized student body of 7,106 in Dallas, TX. The average net cost of $167,112 over four years represents a 35% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Methodist 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

Other Majors at Southern Methodist 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 Southern Methodist University's Romance Languages & Literatures program score?
This program scores 42/100 — on the lower end for Romance Languages & Literatures. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Romance Languages & Literatures to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Romance Languages & Literatures 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.
Why does Southern Methodist University rank so high for Romance Languages & Literatures?
The #50 ranking out of 198 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →