UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 1609

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?

National picture across 5 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$54,454 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$54,454Median year-4 earnings
$23,030Average institution net-price context
$25,848Median federal debt
Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →
WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$54,454Median reported earnings · year 4
$48,295Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,848Median federal debt
54thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
5Reporting programs
4With year-4 earnings
COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

The same field can produce a different equation.

Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.

CURRENT VIEW

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings
$54,454
Federal debt
$25,848
Reporting programs
5
4 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$49,333
Federal debt
$11,313
Reporting programs
3
3 report earnings →
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Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$56,122
Federal debt
$22,746
Reporting programs
258
225 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Post-baccalaureate Certificate

Year-4 earnings
Not available
Federal debt
$28,000
Reporting programs
1
0 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$60,610
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
4
4 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings
$65,548
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
1
1 report earnings →
COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

Where the middle half of programs lands

Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.

Median
25th percentile$43,914National median$54,45475th percentile$56,877
4 programs report year‑4 earnings.
WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Saint Norbert College$62,3792Boise State University$56,8773Temple University$52,0304Cabrillo College$43,9145Walla Walla UniversityNot available

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1124 · 9 crosswalk linksInterpreters and TranslatorsSOC 27-3091 · 9 crosswalk linksSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2031 · 5 crosswalk links
BEST COLLEGES FOR ROMANCE LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#CollegeLocationEarnings, year 4Federal debtROI statusCost context
1Saint Norbert CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaDe Pere, WI$62,379Not availableBaseline needed$26,172
2Boise State UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaBoise, ID$56,877$24,695Baseline needed$21,610
3Temple UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaPhiladelphia, PA$52,030Not availableBaseline needed$28,198
4Cabrillo CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaAptos, CA$43,914Not availableBaseline needed$15,843
5Walla Walla UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaCollege Place, WANot available$27,000Baseline needed$23,329

This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.