Romance Languages at University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
31
Optimistic
30
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings $24,453/yr (-29% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 10.1x earnings multiple (3.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #147 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 graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $586K $574K $519K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.3x 10.1x 9.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.3x 3.2x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 31 30 26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$56,680
Out-of-state: $179,788 (3.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,828
3% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,691
8.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,555
123% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $24,453/yr fall 29% below the $34,637 national median for Romance Languages. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 10.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 58% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $17,691 debt-to-$24,453 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #147 out of 198 programs, University of California-Riverside's financial outcomes for Romance Languages trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $24,453 to $54,555 over five years (123% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Riverside

With a 63% acceptance rate, University of California-Riverside is moderately selective, serving a student body of 22,644 in Riverside, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 47% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Riverside →

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

Other Majors at University of California-Riverside

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 University of California-Riverside's Romance Languages program score?
This program scores 30/100 — on the lower end for Romance Languages. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Romance Languages to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Romance Languages 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 are Romance Languages earnings lower at University of California-Riverside?
Lower starting pay at University of California-Riverside may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →