BACHELOR'S DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 1601

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services: is this bachelor's degree worth it?

National picture across 102 reporting college programs.

10-year estimate · Negative payoff

−$193,160 over 10 years

National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.

With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.

44.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
−78%Modeled 10-year ROI
$50,571Observed earnings · year 4
Not reachedMaximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate it
A PRACTICAL READ

Four useful answers about Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

How much do Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services bachelor's degree graduates earn?

The national median is $50,571 four years after completion across reportable bachelor's degree programs in this federal field.

How much federal debt do graduates have?

The median reported federal debt is $20,824. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.

Does the college matter for Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services?

Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $42,922 to $55,776 in observed year-4 earnings.

What careers are related to Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services?

DegreeVerdict links this field to 5 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.

PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$50,571 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is the average college-wide net-price context across reporting institutions. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$50,571Median reported earnings · year 4
$50,816Average reported earnings · year 5
$20,824Median federal debt
23thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
45IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
91With year-4 earnings

The award total covers 18 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

The same field can produce a different equation.

Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.

OPEN PROFILE

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings
$57,368
Federal debt
$24,702
Reporting programs
5
4 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$57,487
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
1
1 report earnings →
CURRENT VIEW

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$50,571
Federal debt
$20,824
Reporting programs
102
91 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$95,625
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
3
3 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Doctoral Degree

Year-4 earnings
$84,478
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
1
1 report earnings →
COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

Where the middle half of programs lands

Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.

Median
25th percentile$42,922National median$50,57175th percentile$55,776
91 programs report year‑4 earnings.
DECISION CHECK

What to compare before choosing a program

The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.

$55,77675th-percentile year-4 earnings among reporting programs
$20,612Median federal debt across programs that report it
14Programs with earnings in the top quarter and debt at or below the median
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP

Where colleges sit for this exact degree

Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.

$68,263Observed year-4 earnings$37,441
$8,752Annual college-wide average net price$29,612
All reporting colleges Lower-price, higher-earnings quadrantAxes trim the outer 5% for readability; outliers remain pinned to the chart edge. Price is institution-wide context, not exact program tuition.
Compare colleges

Put the same degree side by side.

Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.

Compare 3 programs →
Build your shortlist

Choose colleges offering this exact degree

Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.

100 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
1Duke UniversityDurham, NC · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$88,098Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$29,612
2Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$78,746Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$35,736
3Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$76,993Federal debt$19,760Annual net price$22,585
4University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$76,724Federal debt$14,000Annual net price$13,481
5Virginia Military InstituteLexington, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$73,971Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,113
6Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$68,263Federal debt$22,500Annual net price$24,953
7Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$66,241Federal debt$19,500Annual net price$21,315
8Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI · PublicYear-4 earnings$65,667Federal debt$24,915Annual net price$19,680
9Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$65,574Federal debt$17,500Annual net price$40,815
10Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$64,547Federal debt$19,001Annual net price$18,784
11University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$62,927Federal debt$15,000Annual net price$12,548
12James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$62,366Federal debt$18,398Annual net price$23,322
13University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL · PublicYear-4 earnings$61,774Federal debt$19,500Annual net price$14,355
14University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$61,580Federal debt$14,100Annual net price$16,109
15University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO · PublicYear-4 earnings$61,080Federal debt$19,286Annual net price$20,268
16Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ · PublicYear-4 earnings$60,883Federal debt$24,249Annual net price$24,406
17Brigham Young UniversityProvo, UT · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$60,469Federal debt$11,621Annual net price$15,564
18North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC · PublicYear-4 earnings$60,031Federal debt$19,250Annual net price$17,303
19The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$59,742Federal debt$21,892Annual net price$19,857
20George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,931Federal debt$21,850Annual net price$17,915
21University of California, DavisDavis, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,443Federal debt$16,079Annual net price$14,741
22The University of Arizona Global CampusChandler, AZ · PublicYear-4 earnings$56,666Federal debt$43,603Annual net price$31,266
23Appalachian State UniversityBoone, NC · PublicYear-4 earnings$55,778Federal debt$23,342Annual net price$16,836
24University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$55,776Federal debt$13,998Annual net price$12,470
25Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO · PublicYear-4 earnings$55,647Federal debt$16,225Annual net price$21,279
Open the full program search →
WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Duke University$88,0982Brandeis University$78,7463Emory University$76,9934University of California, Berkeley$76,7245Virginia Military Institute$73,9716Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University$68,2637Texas A&M University-College Station$66,2418Michigan State University$65,6679Georgetown University$65,57410Stony Brook University$64,547

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

Career outlook

Related occupations, wages and demand

Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.

Pay and projected demand

Related careers do not share one outlook

Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection

Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.

Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$79,350 median wage19,830 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1124+0.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$49,060$136,050 10th–90th percentileInterpreters and Translators$60,170 median wage52,060 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-3091+2.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$37,070$103,660 10th–90th percentileSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$101,110 median wage37,100 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-3099-0.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$66,120$160,300 10th–90th percentileEnglish Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$78,760 median wage57,720 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1123+0.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$48,270$137,250 10th–90th percentileSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040 median wage1,065,210 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2031-0.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 63.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$48,780$107,600 10th–90th percentile

BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.

BEST COLLEGES FOR LINGUISTIC, COMPARATIVE, AND RELATED LANGUAGE STUDIES AND SERVICES

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario, not an individual aid offer.

#CollegeLocationEarnings, year 4Federal debt10-year ROIVerdict
1Duke UniversityBachelor's DegreeDurham, NC$88,098Not available+44%Positive payoff
2Brandeis UniversityBachelor's DegreeWaltham, MA$78,746Not available+4%Positive payoff
3Emory UniversityBachelor's DegreeAtlanta, GA$76,993$19,760+18%Positive payoff
4University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's DegreeBerkeley, CA$76,724$14,000+36%Positive payoff
5Virginia Military InstituteBachelor's DegreeLexington, VA$73,971Not available+17%Positive payoff
6Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's DegreeBlacksburg, VA$68,263$22,500-17%Negative payoff
7Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's DegreeCollege Station, TX$66,241$19,500-20%Negative payoff
8Michigan State UniversityBachelor's DegreeEast Lansing, MI$65,667$24,915-20%Negative payoff
9Georgetown UniversityBachelor's DegreeWashington, DC$65,574$17,500-40%Negative payoff
10Stony Brook UniversityBachelor's DegreeStony Brook, NY$64,547$19,001-23%Negative payoff
11University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's DegreeLos Angeles, CA$62,927$15,000-22%Negative payoff
12James Madison UniversityBachelor's DegreeHarrisonburg, VA$62,366$18,398-36%Negative payoff
13University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's DegreeChampaign, IL$61,774$19,500-29%Negative payoff
14University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's DegreeSanta Barbara, CA$61,580$14,100-32%Negative payoff
15University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's DegreeColumbia, MO$61,080$19,286-38%Negative payoff
16Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's DegreeNew Brunswick, NJ$60,883$24,249-43%Negative payoff
17Brigham Young UniversityBachelor's DegreeProvo, UT$60,469$11,621-36%Negative payoff
18North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's DegreeRaleigh, NC$60,031$19,250-40%Negative payoff
19The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's DegreeAustin, TX$59,742$21,892-43%Negative payoff
20George Mason UniversityBachelor's DegreeFairfax, VA$58,931$21,850-45%Negative payoff
21University of California, DavisBachelor's DegreeDavis, CA$58,443$16,079-44%Negative payoff
22The University of Arizona Global CampusBachelor's DegreeChandler, AZ$56,666$43,603-62%Negative payoff
23Appalachian State UniversityBachelor's DegreeBoone, NC$55,778$23,342-56%Negative payoff
24University of California, San DiegoBachelor's DegreeLa Jolla, CA$55,776$13,998-53%Negative payoff
25Colorado State University-Fort CollinsBachelor's DegreeFort Collins, CO$55,647$16,225-60%Negative payoff
26University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's DegreeSeattle, WA$55,540Not available-55%Negative payoff
27University of Southern MaineBachelor's DegreePortland, ME$55,435$25,437-55%Negative payoff
28Montana State UniversityBachelor's DegreeBozeman, MT$55,352$23,250-62%Negative payoff
29University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's DegreeAnn Arbor, MI$55,137$15,124-56%Negative payoff
30The University of Texas at DallasBachelor's DegreeRichardson, TX$54,985$23,156-61%Negative payoff
31Northern Arizona UniversityBachelor's DegreeFlagstaff, AZ$54,276$20,500-61%Negative payoff
32Binghamton UniversityBachelor's DegreeVestal, NY$54,215$22,250-65%Negative payoff
33University of North Carolina at Chapel HillBachelor's DegreeChapel Hill, NC$54,181$17,775-59%Negative payoff
34Christopher Newport UniversityBachelor's DegreeNewport News, VA$53,564Not available-69%Negative payoff
35Gordon CollegeBachelor's DegreeWenham, MA$53,475Not available-70%Negative payoff
36Western Illinois UniversityBachelor's DegreeMacomb, IL$53,453$29,875-64%Negative payoff
37University of Mary WashingtonBachelor's DegreeFredericksburg, VA$53,282$20,500-68%Negative payoff
38Ramapo College of New JerseyBachelor's DegreeMahwah, NJ$53,085$26,000-68%Negative payoff
39University of ArizonaBachelor's DegreeTucson, AZ$52,805Not available-68%Negative payoff
40The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleBachelor's DegreeKnoxville, TN$52,703$20,612-70%Negative payoff
41Clemson UniversityBachelor's DegreeClemson, SC$52,044$26,112-74%Negative payoff
42Portland State UniversityBachelor's DegreePortland, OR$51,925$29,671-68%Negative payoff
43Stephen F Austin State UniversityBachelor's DegreeNacogdoches, TX$51,494$19,495-73%Negative payoff
44University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's DegreePittsburgh, PA$51,416$22,000-79%Negative payoff
45Metropolitan State University of DenverBachelor's DegreeDenver, CO$50,926$31,023-75%Negative payoff
46Hofstra UniversityBachelor's DegreeHempstead, NY$50,571Not available-82%Negative payoff
47University of California, Santa CruzBachelor's DegreeSanta Cruz, CA$49,763$17,491-81%Negative payoff
48California State University, San BernardinoBachelor's DegreeSan Bernardino, CA$49,732$16,449-76%Negative payoff
49San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's DegreeSan Francisco, CA$48,959Not available-83%Negative payoff
50Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's DegreeBloomsburg, PA$48,495$27,000-86%Negative payoff
51West Virginia UniversityBachelor's DegreeMorgantown, WV$48,331$20,916-86%Negative payoff
52University of FloridaBachelor's DegreeGainesville, FL$48,198$19,912-84%Negative payoff
53Colorado State University PuebloBachelor's DegreePueblo, CO$47,362Not available-89%Negative payoff
54Florida Atlantic UniversityBachelor's DegreeBoca Raton, FL$46,915$18,500-91%Negative payoff
55University of OregonBachelor's DegreeEugene, OR$46,886$23,187-93%Negative payoff
56University of Nebraska at OmahaBachelor's DegreeOmaha, NE$46,595$12,000-93%Negative payoff
57Towson UniversityBachelor's DegreeTowson, MD$46,447Not available-94%Negative payoff
58University of California, RiversideBachelor's DegreeRiverside, CA$46,306$17,283-94%Negative payoff
59University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's DegreeMinneapolis, MN$46,081$18,706-96%Negative payoff
60Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBachelor's DegreeRichmond, VA$45,607$26,000-98%Negative payoff
61University of KentuckyBachelor's DegreeLexington, KY$45,148$26,530-99%Negative payoff
62Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's DegreeColumbus, OH$44,941$20,096-100%Negative payoff
63University at BuffaloBachelor's DegreeBuffalo, NY$44,841$19,125-101%Negative payoff
64Western Washington UniversityBachelor's DegreeBellingham, WA$44,615$19,899-101%Negative payoff
65University of UtahBachelor's DegreeSalt Lake City, UT$44,336$21,715-103%Negative payoff
66University of South FloridaBachelor's DegreeTampa, FL$43,813$16,500-105%Negative payoff
67Middle Tennessee State UniversityBachelor's DegreeMurfreesboro, TN$43,666$21,187-106%Negative payoff
68East Carolina UniversityBachelor's DegreeGreenville, NC$43,012$25,560-108%Negative payoff
69San Diego State UniversityBachelor's DegreeSan Diego, CA$42,922$11,000-109%Negative payoff
70Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleBachelor's DegreeCarbondale, IL$42,905$24,500-109%Negative payoff
71Indiana University-BloomingtonBachelor's DegreeBloomington, IN$42,321$18,635-111%Negative payoff
72The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaBachelor's DegreeChattanooga, TN$42,031Not available-113%Negative payoff
73Montclair State UniversityBachelor's DegreeMontclair, NJ$42,017$27,000-112%Negative payoff
74The University of Texas at San AntonioBachelor's DegreeSan Antonio, TX$41,778$29,250-114%Negative payoff
75Missouri State University-SpringfieldBachelor's DegreeSpringfield, MO$41,766$21,500-113%Negative payoff
76University of VermontBachelor's DegreeBurlington, VT$41,124$21,625-115%Negative payoff
77University of Missouri-St LouisBachelor's DegreeSaint Louis, MO$40,768$27,000-118%Negative payoff
78Iowa State UniversityBachelor's DegreeAmes, IA$40,726$24,793-117%Negative payoff
79University of South AlabamaBachelor's DegreeMobile, AL$40,641$23,750-117%Negative payoff
80New Mexico State University-Main CampusBachelor's DegreeLas Cruces, NM$40,432$19,125-121%Negative payoff
81Georgia State UniversityBachelor's DegreeAtlanta, GA$40,310$23,267-119%Negative payoff
82The University of Texas at El PasoBachelor's DegreeEl Paso, TX$39,907$16,502-123%Negative payoff
83University of MemphisBachelor's DegreeMemphis, TN$39,001$25,750-126%Negative payoff
84California State University, Long BeachBachelor's DegreeLong Beach, CA$38,996$12,580-127%Negative payoff
85Wayne State UniversityBachelor's DegreeDetroit, MI$38,926$25,924-126%Negative payoff
86University of Central ArkansasBachelor's DegreeConway, AR$38,631Not available-126%Negative payoff
87University of North TexasBachelor's DegreeDenton, TX$37,441$20,824-131%Negative payoff
88California State University, NorthridgeBachelor's DegreeNorthridge, CA$32,939Not available-158%Negative payoff
89University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasBachelor's DegreeSan Juan, PR$31,930$5,500-160%Negative payoff
90University of New Mexico-Main CampusBachelor's DegreeAlbuquerque, NM$31,036Not available-158%Negative payoff
91California State University, FullertonBachelor's DegreeFullerton, CA$29,715$15,833-174%Negative payoff
92University of GeorgiaBachelor's DegreeAthens, GANot available$22,420WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$13,936
93University of IowaBachelor's DegreeIowa City, IANot available$27,000WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$22,531
94Kansas State UniversityBachelor's DegreeManhattan, KSNot available$23,091WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$19,406
95Wichita State UniversityBachelor's DegreeWichita, KSNot available$17,750WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$13,194
96University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBachelor's DegreeBaltimore, MDNot available$18,500WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$16,467
97Cornell UniversityBachelor's DegreeIthaca, NYNot available$15,500WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$28,690
98University of North Carolina at GreensboroBachelor's DegreeGreensboro, NCNot available$26,414WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$10,965
99Reed CollegeBachelor's DegreePortland, ORNot available$21,250WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$33,013
100The University of Texas at ArlingtonBachelor's DegreeArlington, TXNot available$16,833WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$13,951

This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.