Africana Studies Degree in New Bedford, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Africana Studies degree analysis for New Bedford, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$62K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
17.1 yrs
in New Bedford
Cost of Living
102.5
index (100 = avg)
Africana Studies in New Bedford, MA Overview
While New Bedford has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Africana Studies students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,635/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Africana Studies enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Cultural Analysis and Research. The adjusted starting salary in New Bedford is approximately $43,050.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$16,100/yr
Private Tuition
$48,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,635/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,843/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
63%
Africana Studies Salary in New Bedford (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for New Bedford's cost of living index of 102.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Africana Studies salary: $42,000 starting, $60,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.New Bedford adjustment factor: 1.02x based on the local cost of living index.
Africana Studies ROI Calculator for New Bedford
Estimate your return on investment for a Africana Studies degree using local New Bedford tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,100 | Private avg: $48,000
New Bedford avg aid: $9,843/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$122,940
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,175
vs HS diploma in New Bedford
ROI Payback Period
17.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in New Bedford
$287,060
Lifetime earnings premium ($410,000) minus total education cost ($122,940)
Student Loan Payoff for Africana Studies in New Bedford
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in New Bedford for Africana Studies
New Bedford State University
public
$15,984/yr
$63,936 total
University of New Bedford
public
$18,237/yr
$72,948 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
New Bedford Community College
$5,720/yr
Top Employers for Africana Studies in New Bedford
New Bedford offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Africana Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key New Bedford Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Africana Studies Job Titles
Africana Studies in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$58K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$49K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$56K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$56K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$47K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$46K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$54K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$50K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in New Bedford
Chinese Studies
$56K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$51K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$45K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$51K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$43K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$45K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$51K starting · 8 yr ROI
Art History
$51K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Africana Studies Degree in New Bedford — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Africana Studies ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in New Bedford.