Art History Degree in Torrance, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Art History degree analysis for Torrance, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$81K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$94K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.2 yrs
in Torrance
Cost of Living
162.3
index (100 = avg)
Art History in Torrance, CA Overview
Torrance, California (pop. 147,067) has 6 colleges offering Art History programs. The local cost of living index of 162.3 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,760/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 Torrance is approximately $81,150.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$17,017/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,091/yr
Unemployment
5.3%
Graduation Rate
68%
Art History Salary in Torrance (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Torrance's cost of living index of 162.3 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Art History salary: $50,000 starting, $58,000 mid-career, $72,000 senior level.Torrance adjustment factor: 1.62x based on the local cost of living index.
Art History ROI Calculator for Torrance
Estimate your return on investment for a Art History degree using local Torrance tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Torrance avg aid: $15,091/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$126,068
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,345
vs HS diploma in Torrance
ROI Payback Period
5.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Torrance
$149,842
Lifetime earnings premium ($275,910) minus total education cost ($126,068)
Student Loan Payoff for Art History in Torrance
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Torrance for Art History
Torrance State University
public
$14,860/yr
$59,440 total
University of Torrance
public
$15,109/yr
$60,436 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Torrance Community College
$6,853/yr
Top Employers for Art History in Torrance
Torrance offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Art History graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Torrance Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Art History Job Titles
Art History in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Torrance
Chinese Studies
$89K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$81K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$71K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$81K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$68K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$71K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$73K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$81K starting · 8 yr ROI
Art History Degree in Torrance — 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 Torrance.