Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earn a median $55,459 four years after finishing — $7,099/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 9.5 years. Federal data pools 338 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 788 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ranks #135 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 34% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Rhode Island | RI | $90,953 |
| 2 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $68,898 |
| 3 | Michigan State University | MI | $53,183 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | NC | $51,373 |
| 5 | Luther College | IA | $49,769 |
| 6 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | MN | $42,989 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics pay grow after graduation?
Median pay sits at $55,459 four years out against $55,691 at one year, so early-career growth in this field is flat on national medians. Progression here depends more on the specific role and employer than on time since graduation.
How many students graduate in Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics each year?
About 788 bachelor's graduates a year across 338 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.