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Art History Degree in Honolulu, HI — Salary & ROI 2026

Art History degree analysis for Honolulu, HI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$61K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$70K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

5.5 yrs

in Honolulu

Cost of Living

121

index (100 = avg)

Art History in Honolulu, HI Overview

Honolulu, Hawaii (pop. 350,964) has 12 colleges offering Art History programs. The local cost of living index of 121 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,330/month. 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 Honolulu is approximately $60,500.

Category

Humanities

Local Colleges

12

Public Tuition

$12,186/yr

Private Tuition

$27,060/yr

Room & Board

$12,570/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$12,299/yr

Unemployment

4%

Graduation Rate

54%

Art History Salary in Honolulu (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Honolulu's cost of living index of 121 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$60,500(+$10,500 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$70,180(+$12,180 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$87,120(+$15,120 vs national)

Note: National average Art History salary: $50,000 starting, $58,000 mid-career, $72,000 senior level.Honolulu adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.

Art History ROI Calculator for Honolulu

Estimate your return on investment for a Art History degree using local Honolulu tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $12,186 | Private avg: $27,060

Honolulu avg aid: $12,299/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$99,024

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$18,150

vs HS diploma in Honolulu

ROI Payback Period

5.5 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Honolulu

$106,676

Lifetime earnings premium ($205,700) minus total education cost ($99,024)

Student Loan Payoff for Art History in Honolulu

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$99,024
Monthly Payment$1,124
Total Interest$35,904
% of Monthly Income22%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$99,024
Monthly Payment$1,938
Total Interest$17,227
Interest Savings$18,677

Colleges in Honolulu for Art History

University of Hawaii at Manoa

public

$12,186/yr

$48,744 total

Chaminade University of Honolulu

private

$27,060/yr

$108,240 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Honolulu Community College

$3,432/yr

Top Employers for Art History in Honolulu

Honolulu offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Art History graduates. National top employers in this field include:

MuseumsGalleriesAuction HousesUniversitiesPublishing

Key Honolulu Hiring Sectors for Humanities

Publishing

Non-profits

Education

Media companies

Government

Common Art History Job Titles

Museum CuratorGallery DirectorArt AppraiserAcademic Researcher

Art History Degree in Honolulu — 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 Honolulu.

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