Romance Languages at University of New Mexico-Main Campus

Albuquerque, NM · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,236/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 16.7x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #34 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 graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $548K $541K $495K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.9x 16.7x 15.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.2x 5.1x 4.7x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 43 35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$32,460
Out-of-state: $105,800 (5.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$69,912
-115% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,000
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,218
68% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $32,236/yr, roughly in line with the $34,637 national median for Romance Languages. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 16.7x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $32,236 far exceeding the $14,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #34 out of 198 programs, University of New Mexico-Main Campus's Romance Languages program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $32,236 to $54,218 over five years (68% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of New Mexico-Main Campus

University of New Mexico-Main Campus accepts 95% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 16,686 students in Albuquerque, NM.

See all programs and financial aid at University of New Mexico-Main Campus →

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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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 New Mexico-Main Campus's Romance Languages program score?
This program scores 43/100 — 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 does University of New Mexico-Main Campus rank so high for Romance Languages?
The #34 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 →