by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in General Romance Languages involves the study of Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics, General. A General Program That Focuses On One Or More Of The Romance Languages Of Western, Central, And Southern Europe. Includes Instruction In Philology; Linguistics; Dialects And Pidgins; Literature; And Applications To Business, Science/technology, And Other Settings. Read on to learn the key facts every general romance languages major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general romance languages programs.
Nationwide, general romance languages is a widely-pursued major, with 259 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Romance Languages Schools ranking analyzes these 33 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general romance languages students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general romance languages programs later in this article.
Programs in General Romance Languages develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general romance languages graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a general romance languages program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a general romance languages major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general romance languages degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 140 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 77 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 42 |
People currently working in careers related to general romance languages tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 28.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general romance languages careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in general romance languages opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to general romance languages.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general romance languages.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 629,317 | 7.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of general romance languages graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,134 |
| 4 years | $47,838 |
| 5 years | $56,094 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general romance languages graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general romance languages grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
With 33 different general romance languages programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general romance languages school rankings to help you.
Those considering general romance languages, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
