Art History Degree in Independence, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Art History degree analysis for Independence, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$50K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.3 yrs
in Independence
Cost of Living
85.8
index (100 = avg)
Art History in Independence, MO Overview
While Independence has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Art History students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $13,276/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 Independence is approximately $42,900.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$30,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,276/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,402/yr
Unemployment
2.6%
Graduation Rate
66%
Art History Salary in Independence (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Independence's cost of living index of 85.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Art History salary: $50,000 starting, $58,000 mid-career, $72,000 senior level.Independence adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.
Art History ROI Calculator for Independence
Estimate your return on investment for a Art History degree using local Independence tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $30,000
Independence avg aid: $13,402/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,904
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,870
vs HS diploma in Independence
ROI Payback Period
7.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Independence
$51,956
Lifetime earnings premium ($145,860) minus total education cost ($93,904)
Student Loan Payoff for Art History in Independence
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Independence for Art History
Independence State University
public
$10,025/yr
$40,100 total
University of Independence
public
$9,718/yr
$38,872 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Independence Community College
$4,862/yr
Top Employers for Art History in Independence
Independence offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Art History graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Independence Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Art History Job Titles
Art History in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$47K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$49K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$40K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Columbia, MO
$42K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$48K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$44K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$45K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$42K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Independence
Chinese Studies
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$43K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$38K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$43K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$36K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$38K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$43K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$36K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History Degree in Independence — 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 Independence.