Foreign Languages & Literatures Degree in Jersey City, NJ — Salary & ROI 2026
Foreign Languages & Literatures degree analysis for Jersey City, NJ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$83K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.2 yrs
in Jersey City
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Foreign Languages & Literatures in Jersey City, NJ Overview
Jersey City is one of New Jersey's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 26,694. Public tuition averages $12,750/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 Jersey City is approximately $63,500.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$12,750/yr
Private Tuition
$40,360/yr
Room & Board
$21,714/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,349/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
50%
Foreign Languages & Literatures Salary in Jersey City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jersey City's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Foreign Languages & Literatures salary: $50,000 starting, $65,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Jersey City adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Foreign Languages & Literatures ROI Calculator for Jersey City
Estimate your return on investment for a Foreign Languages & Literatures degree using local Jersey City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,750 | Private avg: $40,360
Jersey City avg aid: $10,349/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,856
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,050
vs HS diploma in Jersey City
ROI Payback Period
7.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jersey City
$217,744
Lifetime earnings premium ($355,600) minus total education cost ($137,856)
Student Loan Payoff for Foreign Languages & Literatures in Jersey City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jersey City for Foreign Languages & Literatures
Saint Peter's University
private
$40,360/yr
$161,440 total
New Jersey City University
public
$12,750/yr
$51,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hudson County Community College
$5,040/yr
Top Employers for Foreign Languages & Literatures in Jersey City
Jersey City offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Foreign Languages & Literatures graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jersey City Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Foreign Languages & Literatures Job Titles
Foreign Languages & Literatures in Nearby New Jersey Cities
Newark, NJ
$68K starting · COL 135
14 colleges
Paterson, NJ
$65K starting · COL 129
5 colleges
Elizabeth, NJ
$58K starting · COL 115.5
6 colleges
Edison, NJ
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Lakewood, NJ
$64K starting · COL 128.8
5 colleges
Woodbridge, NJ
$56K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Toms River, NJ
$59K starting · COL 117.7
4 colleges
Trenton, NJ
$67K starting · COL 134
8 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Jersey City
Foreign Languages & Literatures Degree in Jersey City — 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 Jersey City.