Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 2 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics pays
Career outlook for Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates
The job market for the occupations Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education | 1,094,500 | -1.6% | $64,580 | Bachelor's degree |
| Interpreters and translators | 75,300 | +1.7% | $59,440 | Bachelor's degree |
| Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary | 26,400 | -0.2% | $77,010 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics vs similar majors
How Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics stacks up against the closest fields in Foreign Languages & Linguistics on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Foreign Languages & Linguistics · this major | Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other | Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 83 A | 52 C | 39 D | 36 D |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Break-even | Break-even |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $77,090 | $62,032 | $57,407 | $55,503 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $48,355 | $50,308 | $34,944 | $34,577 |
| ROI vs cost | +305% | +114% | +54% | +32% |
| Typical debt | $20,000 | $21,161 | $22,920 | $20,355 |
| Colleges offering it | 2 | 4 | 4 | 234 |
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | Associate's | $96,927 | — | +1,103% | Strong return |
| 2 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT | Associate's | $57,253 | $20,000 | +219% | Strong return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.