Best colleges for Romance Languages in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are the top bachelor's Romance Languages programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Illinois State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,448, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago and Illinois State University award the most Romance Languages degrees in Illinois: 37, 25 and 21 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 32 Illinois colleges offer Romance Languages and award 219 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Romance Languages program, formally known as Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, focuses on the study of languages, literatures, and cultures associated with Romance languages. This program is ideal for students interested…
Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,448 | 21 | 65% | — | $22,375 |
| 2 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,586 | 20 | 49% | — | $21,250 |
| 3 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,942 | 37 | 85% | — | $21,800 |
| 4 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,207 | 13 | 68% | $28,141 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Wheaton College Wheaton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,025 | 7 | 85% | $23,461 | $26,650 |
| 6 | Elmhurst University Elmhurst Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,767 | 4 | 70% | $20,794 | $20,000 |
| 7 | Lake Forest College Lake Forest Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,622 | 4 | 78% | $25,052 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Monmouth College Monmouth Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,036 | 2 | 65% | $16,821 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Augustana College Rock Island Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $24,208 | 2 | 73% | $14,960 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Romance Languages degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 37 | $38,942 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 25 | Not reported |
| 3 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 21 | $49,448 |
| 4 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 20 | $40,586 |
| 5 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 19 | Not reported |
| 6 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 15 | Not reported |
| 7 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 13 | $39,207 |
| 8 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
| 9 | Wheaton College Wheaton Private not-for-profit | 7 | $37,025 |
| 10 | Lewis University Romeoville Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 22 Illinois colleges offering Romance Languages
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Knox College | Galesburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Eureka College | Eureka | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 2 |
| Principia College | Elsah | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 1 |
| Concordia University - Chicago | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Greenville University | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Rockford University | Rockford | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Interpreters and Translators (SOC 27-3091).
Top skills
What Interpreters and Translators earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Romance Languages programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Romance Languages degrees?+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (37 graduates a year), University of Illinois Chicago (25 graduates a year) and Illinois State University (21 graduates a year) award the most Romance Languages degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 32 Illinois colleges offer Romance Languages.
What is the best college for Romance Languages in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Illinois State University leads among bachelor's Romance Languages programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,448, College Scorecard. Northern Illinois University and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the largest, with 37 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Romance Languages program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Illinois State University tops the list at $49,448. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Interpreters and Translators earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Interpreters and Translators in Illinois is $58,650 (median $55,290), across about 1,510 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Romance Languages program?+
The Romance Languages program, formally known as Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, focuses on the study of languages, literatures, and cultures associated with Romance languages. This program is ideal for students interested…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Interpreters and Translators?+
The national job outlook is about +1.7% growth with around 6,900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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