Iowa · Romance Languages

Best colleges for Romance Languages in Iowa

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Iowa, Iowa State University and Grinnell College award the most Romance Languages degrees in Iowa: 44, 11 and 7 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 Iowa colleges offer Romance Languages and award 87 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…

Institutions
15
offering CIP 16.09
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
87
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$30,211
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
5
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,840
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
67%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Interpreters and Translators
$49,350
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 5 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Iowa
Iowa City Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,7464475%—$23,702
2Iowa State University
Ames Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$37,9091175%—$23,748
3University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$34,702468%—$23,251
4Central College
Pella Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$30,211266%$19,732$27,000
5Grinnell College
Grinnell Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$28,691788%$14,470$17,814

Colleges awarding the most Romance Languages degrees in Iowa

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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Iowa
Iowa City Public
44$28,746
2Iowa State University
Ames Public
11$37,909
3Grinnell College
Grinnell Private not-for-profit
7$28,691
4Drake University
Des Moines Private not-for-profit
6Not reported
5University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls Public
4$34,702
6Central College
Pella Private not-for-profit
2$30,211
7Cornell College
Mount Vernon Private not-for-profit
2Not reported
8Grand View University
Des Moines Private not-for-profit
2Not reported
9Loras College
Dubuque Private not-for-profit
2Not reported
10Saint Ambrose University
Davenport Private not-for-profit
2Not reported
Show the other 5 Iowa colleges offering Romance Languages
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Coe CollegeCedar RapidsPrivate not-for-profit1
Dordt UniversitySioux CenterPrivate not-for-profit1
Graceland University - LamoniLamoniPrivate not-for-profit1
Northwestern CollegeOrange CityPrivate not-for-profit1
Wartburg CollegeWaverlyPrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Interpreters and Translators (SOC 27-3091).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.7%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~6,900
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$59,440
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

SpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionWritingMonitoringCritical Thinking

What Interpreters and Translators earn in Iowa

Jobs in Iowa
560
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$49,350
median $48,150
Best-paying metro
$55,750
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Related careers

Interpreters and Translators
$49,350 avg · 560 jobs
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
$88,940 avg · 210 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Romance Languages programs in Iowa.

Which Iowa colleges award the most Romance Languages degrees?+

University of Iowa (44 graduates a year), Iowa State University (11 graduates a year) and Grinnell College (7 graduates a year) award the most Romance Languages degrees in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 Iowa colleges offer Romance Languages.

Which Romance Languages program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Iowa tops the list at $28,746. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Interpreters and Translators earn in Iowa?+

The average annual wage for Interpreters and Translators in Iowa is $49,350 (median $48,150), across about 560 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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