Foreign Languages & Literatures Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of world languages and their associated literatures and cultures.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$65K
salary
ROI Payback
6.5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
4.2%
rate
Foreign Languages & Literatures Overview
Study of world languages and their associated literatures and cultures.
Category
Humanities
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
64%
Enrollment Trend
declining
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
32%
Lifetime Premium
$280K
Female Graduates
65%
Foreign Languages & Literatures Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$16,200
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$16,200
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$263,800
Lifetime earnings premium ($280,000) minus net degree cost ($16,200)
Foreign Languages & Literatures Salary Progression
Common Foreign Languages & Literatures Careers
Translator
Interpreter
Foreign Service Officer
Language Teacher
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Foreign Languages & Literatures
#1
Middlebury
#2
Georgetown
#3
Yale
#4
Harvard
#5
UC Berkeley
Related Majors
Foreign Languages & Literatures Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Foreign Languages & Literatures Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for foreign languages & literatures programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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