by our College Data Analytics Team
[Romance Languages](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/romance-languages/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 31 schools on the early-career earnings of their romance languages graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose romance languages graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Occidental College, our #1 for romance languages graduate salaries in California. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career romance languages graduates from Occidental College make a median of around $70,680 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in romance languages will find them at University Of San Diego, which ranked #2. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. Romance Languages graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of about $69,974 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Southern California earned it the #3 place for romance languages. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Romance Languages graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of about $66,550 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Loyola Marymount University earned it the #4 place for romance languages. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University typically earn about $61,114 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at California State University Northridge earned it the #5 place for romance languages. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a public institution. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,426.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #6 position for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Early-career romance languages graduates from University Of California Berkeley make a median of around $65,810 per year.
University Of The Pacific earned the #7 position for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution. Romance Languages graduates of University Of The Pacific earn a median of about $61,006 a year early in their careers.
California State University Fullerton landed the #8 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Romance Languages graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of about $45,854 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #9 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. Romance Languages graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of about $60,275 a year early in their careers.
Sonoma State University came in at #10 for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a public institution. Early-career romance languages graduates from Sonoma State University make a median of around $58,303 per year.
University Of California Irvine came in at #11 for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Early-career romance languages graduates from University Of California Irvine make a median of around $53,654 per year.
University Of Redlands placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for romance languages. University Of Redlands is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Redlands. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,762.
California State University Sacramento placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for romance languages. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,378.
Whittier College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying romance languages schools. Located in the suburb of Whittier, Whittier College is a private not-for-profit institution. Romance Languages graduates of Whittier College earn a median of about $40,976 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #15 spot for romance languages salaries this year. University Of California Santa Cruz is a public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. Early-career romance languages graduates from University Of California Santa Cruz make a median of around $51,675 per year.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #16 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Romance Languages graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $60,038 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Davis placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for romance languages. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. Romance Languages graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of about $53,788 a year early in their careers.
California State University Channel Islands placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for romance languages. California State University Channel Islands is a public school located in the rural area of Camarillo. Early-career romance languages graduates from California State University Channel Islands make a median of around $50,479 per year.
Chapman University earned the #19 position for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Chapman University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Chapman University typically earn about $36,546 annually.
University Of California Riverside earned the #20 position for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a public institution. Early-career romance languages graduates from University Of California Riverside make a median of around $54,555 per year.
Humboldt State University landed the #21 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Set in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a public institution. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,444.
California State University San Marcos placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for romance languages. California State University San Marcos is a public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from California State University San Marcos typically earn about $47,058 annually.
California State University Chico ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying romance languages schools. California State University Chico is a public school located in the city of Chico. Romance Languages graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of about $55,893 a year early in their careers.
California State University Fresno ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying romance languages schools. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a public institution. Romance Languages graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of about $56,219 a year early in their careers.
San Diego State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying romance languages schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from San Diego State University typically earn about $43,905 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid romance languages ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their romance languages graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 31 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
