Doctoral (Research)-4% vs national median319 grads tracked
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Ranked 21st of 31 doctoral (research) programs in Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$63,463
middle 50%: $51,552 – $74,027
Median · 5 years out
$72,836
middle 50%: $61,545 – $84,195
Median · 10 years out
$83,386
middle 50%: $67,967 – $98,292
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (doctoral (research)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Linguistics and Foreign Languages PhDs earn a $63k median in their first year. Salaries rise to $83k by the ten-year mark.
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
5.3 yrs
≈ $5,605 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$75,306 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$74,996 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$74,901 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Albany
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$73,014 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$72,848 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$72,786 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Buffalo
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$72,273 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$72,273 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$70,527 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$214,723 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$192,150 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$178,780 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$167,515 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,181 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$150,648 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$147,757 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$140,602 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$127,840 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$125,175 · 5 yrs out
Journalism (Bachelor's)
$124,373 · 5 yrs out
Library Science (Doctorate)
$121,393 · 5 yrs out
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