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. The schools below stand out for the salaries their romance languages graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 36 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying romance languages schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose romance languages graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in romance languages, no school beat Wake Forest University this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,367.
Students chasing top earnings in romance languages will find them at University Of Richmond, which ranked #2. University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of University of Richmond. Romance Languages graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of about $71,914 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Duke University earned it the #3 place for romance languages. Duke University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Romance Languages graduates of Duke University earn a median of about $69,708 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in romance languages will find them at Transylvania University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Lexington, Transylvania University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Transylvania University typically earn about $57,880 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in romance languages will find them at The University Of Alabama, which ranked #5. The University Of Alabama is a public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Early-career romance languages graduates from The University Of Alabama make a median of around $57,228 per year.
Vanderbilt University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for romance languages. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,012.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for romance languages. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. Early-career romance languages graduates from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College make a median of around $54,049 per year.
Emory University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for romance languages. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,682.
Auburn University landed the #9 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Auburn University is a public school located in the city of Auburn. Early-career romance languages graduates from Auburn University make a median of around $53,010 per year.
North Carolina Central University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for romance languages. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a public institution. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,688.
University Of Kentucky ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying romance languages schools. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. Romance Languages graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of about $50,104 a year early in their careers.
Agnes Scott College earned the #12 position for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Decatur, Agnes Scott College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Agnes Scott College typically earn about $49,347 annually.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #13 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Romance Languages graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $64,686 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Florida earned the #14 position for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a public institution. Romance Languages graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of about $48,744 a year early in their careers.
College Of William And Mary landed the #15 spot for romance languages salaries this year. College Of William And Mary is a public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,703.
Wofford College placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for romance languages. Wofford College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Spartanburg. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Wofford College typically earn about $54,450 annually.
Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying romance languages schools. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Romance Languages graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of about $60,762 a year early in their careers.
Eastern Kentucky University earned the #18 position for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University typically earn about $43,171 annually.
University Of Georgia came in at #19 for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a public institution. Romance Languages graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of about $56,577 a year early in their careers.
Eckerd College came in at #20 for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Eckerd College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Petersburg. Romance Languages graduates of Eckerd College earn a median of about $41,862 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #21 spot for romance languages salaries this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill typically earn about $55,230 annually.
Florida International University came in at #22 for romance languages graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a public institution. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from Florida International University typically earn about $41,244 annually.
University Of Florida landed the #23 spot for romance languages salaries this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a public institution. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,423.
College Of Charleston placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for romance languages. Located in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a public institution. Students who complete the romance languages program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,369.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for romance languages. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public school located in the city of Charlotte. After graduating, romance languages degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte typically earn about $46,036 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid romance languages ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 36 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.
