Home › Western Illinois University › Linguistic & Comparative

Linguistic & Comparative at Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,155/yr (34% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 7.8x earnings multiple

Ranked #19 of 79 Linguistic & Comparative programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Linguistic & Comparative graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$464K	$467K	$442K
Earnings Multiple	7.8x	7.8x	7.4x
Probability of Field Employment	43%	38%	28%
DegreeOutlook Score	37	36	28

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$59,808

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$46,368

22% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$29,875

9.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,155 put Western Illinois University's Linguistic & Comparative program 34% above the national median of $27,797 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

At 7.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $29,875 debt-to-$37,155 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #19 out of 79 programs, Western Illinois University's Linguistic & Comparative program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

About Western Illinois University

Western Illinois University accepts 75% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 4,939 students in Macomb, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Illinois University →

Top Career Paths

Social scientists and related workers, all other $100,340/yr

English language and literature teachers, postsecondary $78,270/yr

Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary $77,010/yr

View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Linguistic & Comparative at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Illinois University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Western Illinois University's Linguistic & Comparative program score?

This program scores 36/100 — on the lower end for Linguistic & Comparative. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Linguistic & Comparative to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Linguistic & Comparative careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does Western Illinois University rank so high for Linguistic & Comparative?

The #19 ranking out of 79 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 →