Best Romance Languages and Literatures Programs in the South
Updated
Regional list from Best Romance Languages and Literatures Programs by Earnings
This page ranks the 70 Romance Languages and Literatures programs in the South by median earnings of Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. Vanderbilt University leads the list at 1st with median earnings of $114,368 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed schools, the figure ranges from $114,368 to $16,478, with a median of $53,742. For 16 of the 70 programs the earnings figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 59% of the list, with 41 public and 29 private nonprofit schools represented. Texas A & M International University posts the lowest average net price at $3,637, while The University of Texas at Arlington ranks 8th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt University · Nashville, TN | $114,368 | $15,846 | $3,414 | 5.9% |
| Vanderbilt University ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $114,368 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 2 | Southern Methodist University · Dallas, TX | $93,769 | $40,892 | $23,544 | 63.4% |
| A private nonprofit university in Dallas, Southern Methodist University shows an admission rate of 63% and median earnings of $93,769 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | George Washington University · Washington, DC | $88,114 | $36,586 | $17,440 | 47.1% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at George Washington University left with a median of $20,449 in federal loans, while its Romance Languages and Literatures completers earned a median of $88,114 four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA | $79,925 | $39,949 | $16,126 | 14.0% |
| Tulane University of Louisiana ranks 4th on this list and carries an average net price of $39,949 alongside median earnings of $79,925 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | Emory University · Atlanta, GA | $72,399 | $22,585 | $7,363 | 10.7% |
| With an admission rate of 11%, Emory University posts median earnings of $72,399 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | Elon University · Elon, NC | $71,121 | $41,555 | $26,523 | 66.4% |
| Elon University reports median earnings of $71,121 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing, and a school-wide median federal debt of $20,500 across all borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 7 | Clemson University · Clemson, SC | $70,584 | $22,253 | $13,607 | 38.3% |
| A public institution, Clemson University ranks 7th on this list with median earnings of $70,584 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | Georgetown University · Washington, DC | $70,025 | $40,815 | $5,064 | 12.9% |
| Georgetown University carries an average net price of $5,064 for families earning under $30,000, and its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates earned a median of $70,025 four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | Loyola University Maryland · Baltimore, MD | $69,353 | $30,574 | $20,549 | 75.5% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Loyola University Maryland left with a median of $27,000 in federal loans, and the school's Romance Languages and Literatures completers earned a median of $69,353 four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | Auburn University · Auburn, AL | $68,939 | $24,323 | $16,681 | 45.9% |
| Auburn University ranks 10th on this list, with a school-wide median federal debt of $21,000 across all borrowers who completed and median earnings of $68,939 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA | $67,904 | $21,565 | $8,174 | 16.8% |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus reports an admission rate of 17% and median earnings of $67,904 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing, alongside a cohort of 115 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 12 | University of Florida · Gainesville, FL | $65,765 | $6,541 | $1,982 | 24.2% |
| With an average net price of $6,541, University of Florida posts median earnings of $65,765 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 13 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC | $64,570 | $11,655 | $2,004 | 15.3% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports $64,570 in median earnings for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $11,655. | |||||
| 14 | University of Delaware · Newark, DE | $64,350 | $17,799 | $10,901 | 70.6% |
| A median federal debt of $25,410 among Romance Languages and Literatures completers who borrowed coincides with University of Delaware's 14th position on this list. | |||||
| 15 | University of Georgia · Athens, GA | $63,942 | $13,936 | $8,085 | 37.7% |
| With an admission rate of 38%, University of Georgia posts median earnings of $63,942 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 16 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus · Stillwater, OK | $62,404 | $17,447 | $12,243 | 75.0% |
| Oklahoma State University-Main Campus sits at 16th on this page, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $20,500 in federal loans. | |||||
| 17 | Wofford College · Spartanburg, SC | $61,200 | $18,732 | $8,493 | 51.9% |
| Wofford College, a private nonprofit college in Spartanburg, reports $61,200 in median earnings for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 18 | Wake Forest University · Winston-Salem, NC | $60,875 | $28,719 | $6,525 | 21.7% |
| Wake Forest University admits 22% of applicants and records median earnings of $60,875 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | Furman University · Greenville, SC | $60,280 | $30,308 | $16,401 | 43.0% |
| Furman University ranks 19th on this list, with a median federal debt of $26,955 among Romance Languages and Literatures completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 20 | William & Mary · Williamsburg, VA | $60,177 | $19,096 | $3,106 | 34.1% |
| William & Mary reports $60,177 in median earnings for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $19,096. | |||||
| 21 | The University of the South · Sewanee, TN | $59,821 | $27,872 | $10,485 | 56.9% |
| The University of the South sits at 21st on this page, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $22,855 in federal loans. | |||||
| 22 | University of Maryland-College Park · College Park, MD | $59,193 | $15,678 | $2,962 | 44.8% |
| University of Maryland-College Park posts median earnings of $59,193 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 45%. | |||||
| 23 | Salisbury University · Salisbury, MD | $59,193 | $17,743 | $6,743 | 87.5% |
| Salisbury University ranks 23rd on this list and reports an average net price of $17,743. | |||||
| 24 | Harding University · Searcy, AR | $58,843 | $22,130 | $15,418 | 70.5% |
| Harding University shows median earnings of $58,843 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 11 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 25 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $58,697 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
| The University of Texas at Austin ranks 25th on this list, with median earnings of $58,697 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 26 | Mercer University · Macon, GA | $58,127 | $23,847 | $19,817 | 68.9% |
| Mercer University, a private nonprofit university in Macon, reports an average net price of $23,847 and an admission rate of 69%. | |||||
| 27 | University of Houston · Houston, TX | $56,442 | $14,276 | $10,929 | 73.9% |
| University of Houston posts median federal debt of $18,375 among Romance Languages and Literatures completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $56,442 four years after completing. | |||||
| 28 | University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY | $56,234 | $18,851 | $12,182 | 92.9% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at University of Kentucky left with a median of $22,500 in federal loans, and the school's Romance Languages and Literatures completers earned a median of $56,234 four years after completing. | |||||
| 29 | College of Charleston · Charleston, SC | $56,122 | $18,960 | $12,133 | 60.0% |
| College of Charleston admits 60% of applicants and reports median earnings of $56,122 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 30 | Sam Houston State University · Huntsville, TX | $55,647 | $16,404 | $12,474 | 90.3% |
| Sam Houston State University ranks 30th on this list, and its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing earned a median of $55,647. | |||||
| 31 | University of North Texas · Denton, TX | $55,259 | $15,649 | $12,311 | 72.2% |
| University of North Texas reports an average net price of $15,649 and median earnings of $55,259 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 32 | Austin College · Sherman, TX | $55,168 | $21,107 | $16,528 | 47.7% |
| Austin College ranks 1002nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Romance Languages and Literatures completers earned a median of $55,168 four years after completing. | |||||
| 33 | Texas State University · San Marcos, TX | $54,541 | $16,805 | $12,715 | 89.3% |
| Texas State University posts median federal debt of $21,750 among Romance Languages and Literatures completers who borrowed, with an admission rate of 89%. | |||||
| 34 | Eckerd College · Saint Petersburg, FL | $54,501 | $38,071 | $29,615 | 75.8% |
| Eckerd College reports median earnings of $54,501 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $38,071. | |||||
| 35 | Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY | $53,921 | $10,990 | $7,087 | 93.9% |
| Western Kentucky University ranks 35th on this list, and its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing earned a median of $53,921. | |||||
| 36 | Texas A&M University-College Station · College Station, TX | $53,563 | $21,315 | $12,784 | 57.4% |
| Texas A&M University-College Station reports median federal debt of $14,000 among Romance Languages and Literatures completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earned a median of $53,563. | |||||
| 37 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus · Norman, OK | $52,802 | $15,300 | $10,509 | 76.6% |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus reports median earnings of $52,802 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $15,300. | |||||
| 38 | Georgia State University · Atlanta, GA | $52,415 | $15,931 | $13,787 | 55.4% |
| With an admission rate of 55%, Georgia State University ranks 44th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 39 | Duke University · Durham, NC | $52,107 | $29,612 | $735 | 5.7% |
| Duke University, a private nonprofit university in Durham, posts an average net price of $735 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 40 | The University of Texas at Arlington · Arlington, TX | $51,653 | $13,951 | $11,893 | 79.9% |
| The University of Texas at Arlington ranks 8th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows median federal debt of $15,634 among Romance Languages and Literatures completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 41 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA | $51,592 | $19,151 | $13,056 | 73.3% |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College lists median earnings of $51,592 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 26 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 42 | Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL | $51,157 | $11,297 | $5,938 | 24.2% |
| Florida State University admits 24% of applicants and reports an average net price of $5,938 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 43 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC | $50,695 | $10,965 | $7,305 | 88.5% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranks 43rd on this list, with median earnings of $50,695 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 44 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC | $50,218 | $15,435 | $10,357 | 79.6% |
| Median federal debt among Romance Languages and Literatures completers who borrowed is $21,500 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, which also reports an average net price of $15,435. | |||||
| 45 | University of North Florida · Jacksonville, FL | $49,750 | $10,154 | $6,647 | 53.2% |
| An admission rate of 53% coincides with a school-wide median federal debt of $15,531 across all of University of North Florida's borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 46 | University of Arkansas · Fayetteville, AR | $49,636 | $18,209 | $14,319 | 74.3% |
| University of Arkansas lists median earnings of $49,636 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing and ranks 218th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 47 | Texas Tech University · Lubbock, TX | $47,290 | $19,070 | $12,457 | 72.7% |
| Texas Tech University posts an average net price of $12,457 for families earning under $30,000 and reports median federal debt of $19,750 among Romance Languages and Literatures completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 48 | University of Richmond · University Of Richmond, VA | $47,260 | $31,309 | $12,808 | 22.2% |
| University of Richmond, a private nonprofit university in University Of Richmond, admits 22% of applicants and reports median earnings of $47,260 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 49 | The University of Texas at El Paso · El Paso, TX | $47,152 | $9,403 | $7,863 | 99.9% |
| The University of Texas at El Paso reports median earnings of $47,152 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 100%. | |||||
| 50 | Rice University · Houston, TX | $45,696 | $13,370 | $5,827 | 8.0% |
| A private nonprofit university in Houston, Rice University shows an average net price of $13,370 and median earnings of $45,696 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 51 | University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC | $45,289 | $20,109 | $10,778 | 64.2% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington ranks 51st on this list, with 38 graduates in the earnings cohort and a median of $45,289 four years after completing. | |||||
| 52 | Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY | $44,561 | $8,191 | $2,603 | 67.7% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $23,000 in federal loans at Northern Kentucky University, where the Romance Languages and Literatures program reports median earnings of $44,561 four years after completing. | |||||
| 53 | Transylvania University · Lexington, KY | $42,439 | $21,913 | $14,551 | 86.6% |
| Transylvania University posts an average net price of $14,551 for families earning under $30,000 and median earnings of $42,439 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 54 | University of Louisville · Louisville, KY | $42,369 | $17,988 | $15,138 | 79.4% |
| University of Louisville admits 79% of applicants and reports median earnings of $42,369 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 55 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · Edinburg, TX | $42,224 | $4,831 | $3,785 | 94.2% |
| With an average net price of $4,831, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley reports median earnings of $42,224 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 56 | Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC | $40,744 | $13,315 | $8,816 | 81.8% |
| Western Carolina University ranks 343rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows median earnings of $40,744 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 57 | Trinity University · San Antonio, TX | $40,485 | $23,464 | $10,356 | 25.9% |
| Trinity University reports median earnings of $40,485 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing, with an admission rate of 26%. | |||||
| 58 | Texas Christian University · Fort Worth, TX | $37,208 | $36,660 | $17,956 | 44.5% |
| Texas Christian University shows an average net price of $17,956 for families earning under $30,000 and median earnings of $37,208 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 59 | Centre College · Danville, KY | $33,809 | $20,781 | $11,364 | 54.4% |
| Centre College reports median earnings of $33,809 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $20,781. | |||||
| 60 | McDaniel College · Westminster, MD | $30,409 | $21,916 | $12,210 | 77.9% |
| McDaniel College ranks 784th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $30,409 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 61 | University of Houston-Downtown · Houston, TX | $29,685 | $10,542 | $9,439 | 90.0% |
| University of Houston-Downtown reports median earnings of $29,685 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing, with 19 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 62 | University of South Carolina-Columbia · Columbia, SC | $29,250 | $22,811 | $12,634 | 60.2% |
| An average net price of $22,811 accompanies an admission rate of 60% at University of South Carolina-Columbia. | |||||
| 63 | Goucher College · Baltimore, MD | $26,896 | $22,470 | $13,471 | 77.7% |
| Goucher College, a private nonprofit institution in Baltimore, ranks 1248th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 64 | Georgetown College · Georgetown, KY | $26,353 | $14,095 | $9,777 | 91.1% |
| Georgetown College posts an average net price of $9,777 for families earning under $30,000 alongside median earnings of $26,353 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 65 | Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY | $25,967 | $11,040 | $8,591 | 77.6% |
| Eastern Kentucky University ranks 65th on this list and reports 12 graduates in the earnings cohort for its Romance Languages and Literatures program. | |||||
| 66 | Florida International University · Miami, FL | $25,194 | $9,288 | $7,003 | 54.7% |
| Median earnings of $25,194 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 55% are reported by Florida International University. | |||||
| 67 | Texas A & M International University · Laredo, TX | $24,533 | $3,637 | $3,097 | 44.4% |
| Texas A & M International University carries an average net price of $3,637 and a school-wide median federal debt of $15,000 across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 68 | The Catholic University of America · Washington, DC | $24,421 | $29,561 | $17,358 | 82.8% |
| The Catholic University of America ranks 1029th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $17,358 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 69 | Berea College · Berea, KY | $23,579 | $6,106 | $5,428 | 19.3% |
| Berea College admits 19% of applicants and reports median earnings of $23,579 for its Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 70 | Hendrix College · Conway, AR | $16,478 | $24,149 | $15,951 | 55.7% |
| Hendrix College ranks 70th on this list, with 8 graduates in the earnings cohort and an average net price of $24,149. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Romance Languages and Literatures graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the South appear. The figure is the median earnings of federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 16 of the 70 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The spread from Vanderbilt University to the bottom of the list is $97,890, and the gap between Vanderbilt University and Southern Methodist University is $20,599.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges in the South
- Foreign Languages Colleges in the South