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Romance Languages & Literatures at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
42
Base Case
33
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,635/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 9.5x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #40 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 $578K $568K $514K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.7x 9.5x 8.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.2x 3.1x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 42 33

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,860
Out-of-state: $182,968 (3.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,300
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,601
5.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,275
69% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Santa Barbara's Romance Languages & Literatures program produces graduates earning $35,635/yr — within striking distance of the $34,637 national average for this field.

At 9.5x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

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

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $16,601 in median debt clears quickly against $35,635 in annual earnings.

Ranked #40 out of 198 programs, University of California-Santa Barbara's Romance Languages & Literatures program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $35,635 to $60,275 over five years (69% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

Admission to University of California-Santa Barbara is competitive, with 28% of applicants accepted, serving a student body of 23,205 in Santa Barbara, CA.

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

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

Compare this program → View all 198 schools offering Romance Languages & Literatures →

Romance Languages & Literatures at Other Schools

Bentley University ($66,917) University of Rhode Island ($59,220) Southern Methodist University ($57,858) Columbia University in the City of New York ($54,327) Colgate University ($53,541) College of the Holy Cross ($52,210) Bucknell University ($51,120) Illinois State University ($49,448)

Other Majors at University of California-Santa Barbara

Computer Science ($107,776) Computer Engineering ($91,387) Mechanical Engineering ($81,108) Chemical Engineering ($79,737) Economics ($66,334) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($66,099) Applied Mathematics ($59,638) Statistics ($55,110)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Romance Languages & Literatures trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Santa Barbara'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 University of California-Santa Barbara rank so high for Romance Languages & Literatures?
The #40 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 →