by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 33 U.S. colleges awarded 181 degrees and certificates in General Romance Languages. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best General Romance Languages Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $35,134 one year after completing, rising to $57,332 after four years.
A major in General Romance Languages involves the study of Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics, General. A General Program That Focuses On One Or More Of The Romance Languages Of Western, Central, And Southern Europe. Includes Instruction In Philology; Linguistics; Dialects And Pidgins; Literature; And Applications To Business, Science/technology, And Other Settings.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, general romance languages is a widely-pursued major, with 181 degrees awarded annually. 33 colleges award general romance languages degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 30.
By level, the 181 awards include 107 bachelor’s degrees, 39 master’s degrees and 35 doctorates.
Women earned 74% of general romance languages degrees and certificates in the latest year (133 of 181). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (69) and Hispanic or Latino (49), and international students earned 44.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best General Romance Languages Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks general romance languages schools within 2 states. In all, 33 colleges offer general romance languages programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Romance Languages Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general romance languages credential is the bachelor’s degree: 107 of the 181 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general romance languages call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Foreign Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Speech Clarity, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a general romance languages degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 107 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 39 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 35 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general romance languages, at 45.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 28.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to General Romance Languages, with an average median salary of $56,790; the strongest outlook belongs to Interpreters and Translators, at 12.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Language Arts Teacher, Hebrew Teacher, French Teacher and Bilingual Teacher.
The occupation related to general romance languages with the most projected jobs is Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, at 629,317.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 629,317 | 7.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
General Romance Languages graduates earn a median $35,134 one year after completing their program, $57,332 after four years and $56,032 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,134 |
| 4 years | $57,332 |
| 5 years | $56,032 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general romance languages is Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, with a median salary of $77,927.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
General Romance Languages has 6 similar majors in the Foreign Languages & Linguistics field, which together award 12,163 degrees a year; the largest are Spanish Language and Literature (8,837), French Language and Literature (2,010) and Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General (696). Browse all Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors or the full list of college majors.
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