by our College Data Analytics Team
[Romance Languages](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/romance-languages/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find where romance languages graduates earn the most.
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If you want to know which schools send romance languages graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Northern Michigan University, our #1 for romance languages graduate salaries in Michigan. Northern Michigan University is a public school located in the town of Marquette. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,611.
A rank of #2 makes Aquinas College Michigan one of the highest-paying schools for romance languages. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Aquinas College Michigan is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career romance languages graduates from Aquinas College Michigan make a median of around $53,158 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Hope College earned it the #3 place for romance languages. Hope College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Holland. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Hope College typically earn about $54,230 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Michigan State University earned it the #4 place for romance languages. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Early-career romance languages graduates from Michigan State University make a median of around $54,726 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Calvin College one of the highest-paying schools for romance languages. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Calvin College typically earn about $48,951 annually.
Western Michigan University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for romance languages. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a public institution. Early-career romance languages graduates from Western Michigan University make a median of around $49,620 per year.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #7 position for romance languages graduate earnings this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Early-career romance languages graduates from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor make a median of around $64,140 per year.
Grand Valley State University landed the #8 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Grand Valley State University is a public school located in the town of Allendale. Romance Languages graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of about $49,685 a year early in their careers.
Oakland University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying romance languages schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a public institution. Romance Languages graduates of Oakland University earn a median of about $35,411 a year early in their careers.
Central Michigan University came in at #10 for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a public institution. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,998.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries romance languages graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 10 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.