Classical Studies Degree in Philadelphia, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Classical Studies degree analysis for Philadelphia, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$68K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$93K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10.2 yrs
in Philadelphia
Cost of Living
150
index (100 = avg)
Classical Studies in Philadelphia, PA Overview
Philadelphia is one of Pennsylvania's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 116,806. Public tuition averages $18,526/year here — near the national average for public universities. Classical Studies enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Latin/Greek and Research. The adjusted starting salary in Philadelphia is approximately $67,500.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$18,526/yr
Private Tuition
$59,845/yr
Room & Board
$19,639/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,866/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
52%
Classical Studies Salary in Philadelphia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Philadelphia's cost of living index of 150 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Classical Studies salary: $45,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $82,000 senior level.Philadelphia adjustment factor: 1.50x based on the local cost of living index.
Classical Studies ROI Calculator for Philadelphia
Estimate your return on investment for a Classical Studies degree using local Philadelphia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $18,526 | Private avg: $59,845
Philadelphia avg aid: $10,866/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$152,660
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,000
vs HS diploma in Philadelphia
ROI Payback Period
10.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Philadelphia
$72,340
Lifetime earnings premium ($225,000) minus total education cost ($152,660)
Student Loan Payoff for Classical Studies in Philadelphia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Philadelphia for Classical Studies
University of Pennsylvania
private
$63,452/yr
$253,808 total
Temple University
public
$18,526/yr
$74,104 total
Drexel University
private
$56,238/yr
$224,952 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Philadelphia
$6,378/yr
Top Employers for Classical Studies in Philadelphia
Philadelphia offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Classical Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Philadelphia Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Classical Studies Job Titles
Classical Studies in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Pittsburgh, PA
$52K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$51K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$53K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$54K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$43K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$54K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$56K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$41K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Philadelphia
Chinese Studies
$83K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$75K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$66K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$75K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$63K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$66K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$75K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$63K starting · 5 yr ROI
Classical Studies Degree in Philadelphia — 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 Classical Studies ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Philadelphia.