Tennessee · Romance Languages

Best colleges for Romance Languages in Tennessee

Ranked by graduate earnings

Vanderbilt University, Lipscomb University and Rhodes College award the most Romance Languages degrees and certificates in Tennessee: 17, 8 and 8 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 Tennessee colleges offer Romance Languages and award 69 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
16
offering CIP 16.09
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
69
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$47,208
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,573
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
63%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Interpreters and Translators
$53,590
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top institution, 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
1Vanderbilt University
Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$47,2081794%$14,854$12,000

Colleges awarding the most Romance Languages degrees in Tennessee

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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)
1Vanderbilt University
Nashville Private not-for-profit
17$47,208
2Lipscomb University
Nashville Private not-for-profit
8Not reported
3Rhodes College
Memphis Private not-for-profit
8Not reported
4Walters State Community College
Morristown Public
6Not reported
5Belmont University
Nashville Private not-for-profit
5Not reported
6Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson Private not-for-profit
4Not reported
7Lee University
Cleveland Private not-for-profit
3Not reported
8University of Memphis
Memphis Public
3Not reported
9The University of the South
Sewanee Private not-for-profit
3Not reported
10The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville Public
3Not reported
Show the other 6 Tennessee colleges offering Romance Languages
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Austin Peay State UniversityClarksvillePublic2
East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson CityPublic2
Southern Adventist UniversityCollegedalePrivate not-for-profit2
Carson-Newman UniversityJefferson CityPrivate not-for-profit1
The University of Tennessee-MartinMartinPublic1
Union UniversityJacksonPrivate 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 Tennessee

Jobs in Tennessee
710
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$53,590
median $51,080
Best-paying metro
$67,250
Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Related careers

Interpreters and Translators
$53,590 avg · 710 jobs
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
$77,160 avg · 310 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Romance Languages programs in Tennessee.

Which Tennessee colleges award the most Romance Languages degrees?+

Vanderbilt University (17 graduates a year), Lipscomb University (8 graduates a year) and Rhodes College (8 graduates a year) award the most Romance Languages degrees and certificates in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 Tennessee colleges offer Romance Languages.

How much do Interpreters and Translators earn in Tennessee?+

The average annual wage for Interpreters and Translators in Tennessee is $53,590 (median $51,080), across about 710 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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