by our College Data Analytics Team
[Romance Languages](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/romance-languages/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying romance languages schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send romance languages graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #1 spot for highest-paid romance languages graduates in New York. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career romance languages graduates from Columbia University In The City Of New York make a median of around $78,873 per year.
A rank of #2 makes Colgate University one of the highest-paying schools for romance languages. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $79,583.
Strong graduate earnings at Suny At Geneseo earned it the #3 place for romance languages. Located in the town of Geneseo, Suny At Geneseo is a public institution. Early-career romance languages graduates from Suny At Geneseo make a median of around $61,314 per year.
A rank of #4 makes University At Buffalo one of the highest-paying schools for romance languages. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a public institution. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from University At Buffalo typically earn about $53,072 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in romance languages will find them at Cornell University, which ranked #5. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,245.
Hamilton College came in at #6 for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Hamilton College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton. Early-career romance languages graduates from Hamilton College make a median of around $58,619 per year.
Suny At Binghamton landed the #7 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a public institution. Early-career romance languages graduates from Suny At Binghamton make a median of around $71,075 per year.
Fordham University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying romance languages schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Fordham University typically earn about $53,448 annually.
Cuny York College landed the #9 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Set in the city of Jamaica, Cuny York College is a public institution. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,882.
Cuny Queens College earned the #10 position for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Cuny Queens College is a public school located in the city of Queens. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,850.
Stony Brook University landed the #11 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a public institution. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Stony Brook University typically earn about $43,596 annually.
State University Of New York At New Paltz earned the #12 position for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a public institution. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from State University Of New York At New Paltz typically earn about $60,084 annually.
Skidmore College landed the #13 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Skidmore College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Skidmore College typically earn about $40,204 annually.
Syracuse University came in at #14 for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Romance Languages graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of about $39,825 a year early in their careers.
Cuny Hunter College landed the #15 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a public institution. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College typically earn about $53,642 annually.
Vassar College landed the #16 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career romance languages graduates from Vassar College make a median of around $54,746 per year.
Cuny City College came in at #17 for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a public institution. Early-career romance languages graduates from Cuny City College make a median of around $60,398 per year.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice came in at #18 for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a public institution. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $37,442.
Cuny Lehman College landed the #19 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Cuny Lehman College is a public school located in the city of Bronx. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College typically earn about $35,941 annually.
Suny At Albany placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for romance languages. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a public institution. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Suny At Albany typically earn about $30,810 annually.
Nazareth College came in at #21 for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Nazareth College is a private not-for-profit institution. Romance Languages graduates of Nazareth College earn a median of about $25,979 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published 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 · 21 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.