Linguistic & Comparative at American University
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · Certificate · Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
TradeSchoolWorth Score (Base Case)
51
Strong Growth
48
Base Case
42
Conservative
Earnings
$52,493/yr (49% vs median)
AI-Proof
Exposed (44% shielded)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
Future-Proof Earnings
Three scenarios modeling future earnings based on technology adoption rates and job market trends for Linguistic & Comparative graduates.
| Strong Growth Full Stability |
Base Case Moderate Changes |
Conservative Max Disruption |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $602K | $473K | $361K |
| Earnings Multiple | 10.6x | 8.4x | 6.4x |
| Viable Career Paths | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| TradeSchoolWorth Score | 51 | 48 | 42 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as technology and market conditions evolve over time.
Program Tuition
$56,543
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,250
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Career Paths
Where Linguistic & Comparative graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 83,300 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI-Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social scientists and related workers, all other | $100,340 | 3,200 | -1.7% | 48% |
| English language and literature teachers, postsecondary | $78,270 | 5,100 | 0.0% | 47% |
| Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary | $77,010 | 1,900 | -0.2% | 47% |
| Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education | $64,580 | 66,200 | -1.6% | 67% |
| Interpreters and translators | $59,440 | 6,900 | +1.7% | 12% |
Compare & Explore
Linguistic & Comparative Overview
Linguistic & Comparative at Other Schools
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TradeSchoolWorth Score for Linguistic & Comparative at American University?
This program scores 48/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 42 (conservative) to 51 (strong growth) depending on market conditions.
How AI-proof is a career in Linguistic & Comparative?
We model three scenarios: Strong Growth (full career stability), Base Case (moderate changes), and Conservative (maximum disruption). In the base case, Linguistic & Comparative graduates retain 5 of 5 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $361,290 (conservative) to $601,774 (strong growth).
How many job openings are there for Linguistic & Comparative graduates?
The career paths mapped to Linguistic & Comparative have roughly 83,300 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a large job market.
Is Linguistic & Comparative at American University worth it?
In the Base Case, this program earns 8.4x its tuition over 10 years. Even in the Conservative scenario, the multiple is 6.4x. The narrow spread between scenarios shows how stable trade careers are compared to desk jobs.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Scenarios model earnings resilience using AI exposure data and BLS job growth projections.
"Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI.
Last updated 2026.