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Art History Degree in Syracuse, NY — Salary & ROI 2026

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

Starting Salary

$69K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$79K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

6.7 yrs

in Syracuse

Cost of Living

137

index (100 = avg)

Art History in Syracuse, NY Overview

Syracuse, New York (pop. 148,620) has 10 colleges offering Art History programs. The local cost of living index of 137 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,093/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 Syracuse is approximately $68,500.

Category

Humanities

Local Colleges

10

Public Tuition

$14,304/yr

Private Tuition

$57,750/yr

Room & Board

$19,896/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$16,141/yr

Unemployment

4%

Graduation Rate

62%

Art History Salary in Syracuse (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Syracuse's cost of living index of 137 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$68,500(+$18,500 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$79,460(+$21,460 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$98,640(+$26,640 vs national)

Note: National average Art History salary: $50,000 starting, $58,000 mid-career, $72,000 senior level.Syracuse adjustment factor: 1.37x based on the local cost of living index.

Art History ROI Calculator for Syracuse

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

Public avg: $14,304 | Private avg: $57,750

Syracuse avg aid: $16,141/yr

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

Total Education Cost

$136,800

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$20,550

vs HS diploma in Syracuse

ROI Payback Period

6.7 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Syracuse

$96,100

Lifetime earnings premium ($232,900) minus total education cost ($136,800)

Student Loan Payoff for Art History in Syracuse

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$136,800
Monthly Payment$1,553
Total Interest$49,600
% of Monthly Income27%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$136,800
Monthly Payment$2,677
Total Interest$23,799
Interest Savings$25,801

Colleges in Syracuse for Art History

Syracuse University

private

$57,750/yr

$231,000 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Onondaga Community College

$5,504/yr

Top Employers for Art History in Syracuse

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

MuseumsGalleriesAuction HousesUniversitiesPublishing

Key Syracuse 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 Syracuse — 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 Syracuse.

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