Art History Degree in Silver Spring, MD — Salary & ROI 2026
Art History degree analysis for Silver Spring, MD. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$71K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.4 yrs
in Silver Spring
Cost of Living
122.5
index (100 = avg)
Art History in Silver Spring, MD Overview
While Silver Spring has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Art History students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,215/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 Silver Spring is approximately $61,250.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,800/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,215/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,816/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
75%
Art History Salary in Silver Spring (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Silver Spring's cost of living index of 122.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Art History salary: $50,000 starting, $58,000 mid-career, $72,000 senior level.Silver Spring adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Art History ROI Calculator for Silver Spring
Estimate your return on investment for a Art History degree using local Silver Spring tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,800 | Private avg: $42,000
Silver Spring avg aid: $10,816/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$100,060
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,375
vs HS diploma in Silver Spring
ROI Payback Period
5.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Silver Spring
$108,190
Lifetime earnings premium ($208,250) minus total education cost ($100,060)
Student Loan Payoff for Art History in Silver Spring
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Silver Spring for Art History
Silver Spring State University
public
$10,864/yr
$43,456 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Silver Spring Community College
$5,576/yr
Top Employers for Art History in Silver Spring
Silver Spring offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Art History graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Silver Spring Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Art History Job Titles
Art History in Nearby Maryland Cities
Baltimore, MD
$65K starting · COL 130
22 colleges
Columbia, MD
$64K starting · COL 127.2
4 colleges
Frederick, MD
$56K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Waldorf, MD
$60K starting · COL 120.7
4 colleges
Ellicott City, MD
$57K starting · COL 114.2
3 colleges
Glen Burnie, MD
$54K starting · COL 108.8
3 colleges
Rockville, MD
$64K starting · COL 128.5
3 colleges
Bethesda, MD
$58K starting · COL 116.7
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Silver Spring
Chinese Studies
$67K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$61K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$61K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$51K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$54K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$61K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History Degree in Silver Spring — 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 Silver Spring.