Art History Degree in Providence, RI — Salary & ROI 2026
Art History degree analysis for Providence, RI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$71K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$82K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Providence
Cost of Living
141
index (100 = avg)
Art History in Providence, RI Overview
Providence, Rhode Island (pop. 190,934) has 7 colleges offering Art History programs. The local cost of living index of 141 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,476/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 Providence is approximately $70,500.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$15,259/yr
Private Tuition
$59,540/yr
Room & Board
$17,733/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,708/yr
Unemployment
4.3%
Graduation Rate
54%
Art History Salary in Providence (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Providence's cost of living index of 141 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Art History salary: $50,000 starting, $58,000 mid-career, $72,000 senior level.Providence adjustment factor: 1.41x based on the local cost of living index.
Art History ROI Calculator for Providence
Estimate your return on investment for a Art History degree using local Providence tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,259 | Private avg: $59,540
Providence avg aid: $15,708/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$131,968
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,150
vs HS diploma in Providence
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Providence
$107,732
Lifetime earnings premium ($239,700) minus total education cost ($131,968)
Student Loan Payoff for Art History in Providence
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Providence for Art History
Brown University
private
$62,680/yr
$250,720 total
Providence College
private
$56,400/yr
$225,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Rhode Island
$4,994/yr
Top Employers for Art History in Providence
Providence offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Art History graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Providence Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Art History Job Titles
Art History in Nearby Rhode Island Cities
Other Humanities Majors in Providence
Chinese Studies
$78K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$71K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$62K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$71K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$59K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$62K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$63K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$71K starting · 8 yr ROI
Art History Degree in Providence — 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 Providence.