Romance Languages at University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · 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 $34,702/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 13.5x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #42 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 $529K $524K $483K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.6x 13.5x 12.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.2x 6.2x 5.7x
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)
$38,912
Out-of-state: $85,088 (6.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,436
-50% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,414
51% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,702 track close to the $34,637 national median for Romance Languages programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Romance Languages programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Romance Languages's typical career paths, with 58% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $34,702 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #42 of 198 nationally, this is a top-5% Romance Languages program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $52,414 show a 51% jump from the $34,702 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Northern Iowa

University of Northern Iowa has a 94% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 7,599 students in Cedar Falls, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Northern Iowa →

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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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Romance Languages at University of Northern Iowa?
A score of 42/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Romance Languages. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Romance Languages careers?
With 58% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $482,756 in decade earnings vs $528,947 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Northern Iowa's Romance Languages program stand out?
Ranked #42 of 198 programs nationally, University of Northern Iowa lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →