DegreeCalc

Foreign Languages & Literatures Degree in Baltimore, MD — Salary & ROI 2026

Foreign Languages & Literatures degree analysis for Baltimore, MD. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$65K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$85K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

6.9 yrs

in Baltimore

Cost of Living

130

index (100 = avg)

Foreign Languages & Literatures in Baltimore, MD Overview

Baltimore is one of Maryland's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 30,415. Public tuition averages $12,096/year here — near the national average for public universities. Although national enrollment in Foreign Languages & Literatures has been declining, graduates with skills in Fluency in Target Language and Translation remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Baltimore is approximately $65,000.

Category

Humanities

Local Colleges

22

Public Tuition

$12,096/yr

Private Tuition

$56,325/yr

Room & Board

$21,745/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$8,793/yr

Unemployment

6.3%

Graduation Rate

58%

Foreign Languages & Literatures Salary in Baltimore (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Baltimore's cost of living index of 130 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$65,000(+$15,000 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$84,500(+$19,500 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$104,000(+$24,000 vs national)

Note: National average Foreign Languages & Literatures salary: $50,000 starting, $65,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Baltimore adjustment factor: 1.30x based on the local cost of living index.

Foreign Languages & Literatures ROI Calculator for Baltimore

Estimate your return on investment for a Foreign Languages & Literatures degree using local Baltimore tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $12,096 | Private avg: $56,325

Baltimore avg aid: $8,793/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$135,364

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$19,500

vs HS diploma in Baltimore

ROI Payback Period

6.9 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Baltimore

$228,636

Lifetime earnings premium ($364,000) minus total education cost ($135,364)

Student Loan Payoff for Foreign Languages & Literatures in Baltimore

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$135,364
Monthly Payment$1,537
Total Interest$49,080
% of Monthly Income28%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$135,364
Monthly Payment$2,649
Total Interest$23,549
Interest Savings$25,531

Colleges in Baltimore for Foreign Languages & Literatures

Johns Hopkins University

private

$60,480/yr

$241,920 total

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

public

$12,096/yr

$48,384 total

Loyola University Maryland

private

$52,170/yr

$208,680 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Baltimore City Community College

$3,768/yr

Top Employers for Foreign Languages & Literatures in Baltimore

Baltimore offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Foreign Languages & Literatures graduates. National top employers in this field include:

State DepartmentUNTranslation ServicesTech CompaniesSchools

Key Baltimore Hiring Sectors for Humanities

Publishing

Non-profits

Education

Media companies

Government

Common Foreign Languages & Literatures Job Titles

TranslatorInterpreterForeign Service OfficerLanguage Teacher

Foreign Languages & Literatures Degree in Baltimore — FAQ

Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.

Explore More

Compare Foreign Languages & Literatures ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Baltimore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators