DegreeCalc

Art History Degree in Plano, TX — Salary & ROI 2026

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

Starting Salary

$43K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$49K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

4.5 yrs

in Plano

Cost of Living

85

index (100 = avg)

Art History in Plano, TX Overview

Plano, Texas (pop. 285,494) has 9 colleges offering Art History programs. The local cost of living index of 85 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $849/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 Plano is approximately $42,500.

Category

Humanities

Local Colleges

9

Public Tuition

$2,220/yr

Private Tuition

$39,702/yr

Room & Board

$12,277/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$15,063/yr

Unemployment

4.7%

Graduation Rate

57%

Art History Salary in Plano (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Plano's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$42,500($-7,500 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$49,300($-8,700 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$61,200($-10,800 vs national)

Note: National average Art History salary: $50,000 starting, $58,000 mid-career, $72,000 senior level.Plano adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.

Art History ROI Calculator for Plano

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

Public avg: $2,220 | Private avg: $39,702

Plano avg aid: $15,063/yr

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

Total Education Cost

$57,988

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$12,750

vs HS diploma in Plano

ROI Payback Period

4.5 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Plano

$86,512

Lifetime earnings premium ($144,500) minus total education cost ($57,988)

Student Loan Payoff for Art History in Plano

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$57,988
Monthly Payment$658
Total Interest$21,025
% of Monthly Income19%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$57,988
Monthly Payment$1,135
Total Interest$10,088
Interest Savings$10,937

Colleges in Plano for Art History

Collin College University Center

public

$2,220/yr

$8,880 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Collin College

$2,220/yr

Top Employers for Art History in Plano

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

MuseumsGalleriesAuction HousesUniversitiesPublishing

Key Plano 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 Plano — 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 Plano.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators