Art History Degree in Akron, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Art History degree analysis for Akron, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$61K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.1 yrs
in Akron
Cost of Living
105
index (100 = avg)
Art History in Akron, OH Overview
While Akron has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Art History students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $8,745/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Although national enrollment in Art History has been declining, graduates with skills in Visual Analysis and Art Criticism remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Akron is approximately $52,500.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,330/yr
Private Tuition
$45,325/yr
Room & Board
$8,745/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,336/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
72%
Art History Salary in Akron (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Akron's cost of living index of 105 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Art History salary: $50,000 starting, $58,000 mid-career, $72,000 senior level.Akron adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Art History ROI Calculator for Akron
Estimate your return on investment for a Art History degree using local Akron tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,330 | Private avg: $45,325
Akron avg aid: $8,336/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$80,300
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,750
vs HS diploma in Akron
ROI Payback Period
5.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Akron
$98,200
Lifetime earnings premium ($178,500) minus total education cost ($80,300)
Student Loan Payoff for Art History in Akron
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Akron for Art History
University of Akron
public
$11,330/yr
$45,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Stark State College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Art History in Akron
Akron offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Art History graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Akron Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Art History Job Titles
Art History in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$52K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$48K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$51K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$54K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Dayton, OH
$52K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$45K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$42K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$43K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Akron
Chinese Studies
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$53K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$53K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History Degree in Akron — 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 Art History ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Akron.