Bachelor's+2% vs national median633 grads tracked
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Northern Illinois University
Ranked 88th of 264 bachelor's programs in Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$40,188
middle 50%: $28,832 – $52,916
Median · 5 years out
$57,360
middle 50%: $43,594 – $72,883
Median · 10 years out
$68,291
middle 50%: $51,476 – $90,695
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Northern Illinois University graduates in Foreign Languages earn a median $40,188 in their first year. Median earnings reach $57k at five years and $68k at ten years.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,495 total interest
Same major at other universities
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Berks
$57,471 · 5 yrs out
Hampden Sydney College
$57,471 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$57,463 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$57,436 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oneonta
$57,417 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
$57,372 · 5 yrs out
Millikin University
$57,248 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$57,052 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$56,711 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$56,595 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$56,564 · 5 yrs out
Randolph College
$56,563 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Northern Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out
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