Foreign Languages & Literatures Degree in Renton, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Foreign Languages & Literatures degree analysis for Renton, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$80K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Renton
Cost of Living
122.5
index (100 = avg)
Foreign Languages & Literatures in Renton, WA Overview
While Renton has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Foreign Languages & Literatures students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,923/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Renton is approximately $61,250.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,923/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,424/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
64%
Foreign Languages & Literatures Salary in Renton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Renton's cost of living index of 122.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Foreign Languages & Literatures salary: $50,000 starting, $65,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Renton adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Foreign Languages & Literatures ROI Calculator for Renton
Estimate your return on investment for a Foreign Languages & Literatures degree using local Renton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Renton avg aid: $15,424/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,892
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,375
vs HS diploma in Renton
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Renton
$232,108
Lifetime earnings premium ($343,000) minus total education cost ($110,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Foreign Languages & Literatures in Renton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Renton for Foreign Languages & Literatures
Renton State University
public
$11,303/yr
$45,212 total
University of Renton
public
$13,258/yr
$53,032 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Renton Community College
$5,805/yr
Top Employers for Foreign Languages & Literatures in Renton
Renton offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Foreign Languages & Literatures graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Renton Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Foreign Languages & Literatures Job Titles
Foreign Languages & Literatures in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$60K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$61K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$57K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$89K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$58K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$62K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Renton
Foreign Languages & Literatures Degree in Renton — 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 Renton.