Compare 28 French Language and Literature. programs in New York. Average earnings: $44,774.
The highest-earning French Language and Literature program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $35K earnings gap across 28 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Cornell University's French Language and Literature program leads with graduates earning $69,029, followed by Colgate University at $65,215. The average across all programs is $44,774, but the variation tells the real story—program quality matters more than school reputation when it comes to career outcomes.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Cornell graduates borrow $14,000 and face just a 4.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families considering parent loans, CUNY Queens College leads with a 15.4% family burden, proving the best choice depends on who's paying.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $69,029 | 36 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Manageable |
| #2 | Colgate UniversityPrivate | $65,215 | 31 | $15,000 | Excellent | $59,463 | High |
| #3 | Marist CollegePrivate | $59,369 | 9 | $25,000 | Good | $51,958 | High |
| #4 | Suny College At GeneseoPublic | $57,836 | 17 | $19,500 | Excellent | $22,092 | Manageable |
| #5 | Hamilton CollegePrivate | $57,565 | 26 | $17,000 | Excellent | $45,578 | High |
| #6 | Stony Brook UniversityPublic | $57,201 | 19 | $18,228 | Excellent | $21,400 | Manageable |
| #7 | $56,418 | 31 | $18,750 | Excellent | $23,871 | Challenging | |
| #8 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | $53,789 | 47 | $18,500 | Good | $27,270 | Challenging |
| #9 | $52,718 | 40 | $21,500 | Good | $35,000 | High | |
| #10 | Fordham UniversityPrivate | $52,464 | 27 | $24,300 | Good | $37,095 | High |
| #11 | Cuny Queens CollegePublic | $49,930 | 22 | $10,298 | Excellent | $17,680 | Manageable |
| #12 | Hofstra UniversityPrivate | $49,413 | 6 | $23,621 | Manageable | $56,149 | High |
| #13 | Cuny City CollegePublic | $48,531 | 24 | $11,990 | Excellent | $17,460 | Manageable |
| #14 | University At BuffaloPublic | $47,487 | 27 | $19,000 | Good | $20,734 | Challenging |
| #15 | Cuny Hunter CollegePublic | $46,322 | 31 | $11,000 | Excellent | $20,252 | Challenging |
| #16 | Vassar CollegePrivate | $41,730 | 23 | $18,625 | Manageable | $44,501 | High |
| #17 | $41,494 | 5 | $20,880 | Manageable | $19,416 | High | |
| #18 | $37,442 | 14 | $11,000 | Good | $16,130 | High | |
| #19 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $35,954 | 35 | $26,000 | High | $39,841 | High |
| #20 | $33,993 | 5 | $21,196 | High | $19,010 | High | |
| #21 | Cuny Lehman CollegePublic | $32,925 | 27 | $10,950 | Manageable | $11,955 | High |
| #22 | Cuny York CollegePublic | $32,925 | 13 | $11,000 | Manageable | $11,018 | High |
| #23 | University At AlbanyPublic | $30,810 | 24 | $19,500 | High | $22,398 | High |
| #24 | $30,409 | 5 | $21,028 | High | $12,951 | High | |
| #25 | New York UniversityPrivate | $29,685 | 55 | $20,500 | High | $64,795 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
