Classics Degree in Columbus, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Classics degree analysis for Columbus, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$62K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Columbus
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Classics in Columbus, OH Overview
Columbus is one of Ohio's top college towns, with 31 institutions and a student population of 31,081. Public tuition averages $11,936/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Although national enrollment in Classics has been declining, graduates with skills in Latin and Ancient Greek remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Columbus is approximately $51,500.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
31
Public Tuition
$11,936/yr
Private Tuition
$25,555/yr
Room & Board
$11,227/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,971/yr
Unemployment
5%
Graduation Rate
59%
Classics Salary in Columbus (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbus's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Classics salary: $50,000 starting, $60,000 mid-career, $75,000 senior level.Columbus adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Classics ROI Calculator for Columbus
Estimate your return on investment for a Classics degree using local Columbus tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,936 | Private avg: $25,555
Columbus avg aid: $15,971/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,652
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,450
vs HS diploma in Columbus
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbus
$72,148
Lifetime earnings premium ($164,800) minus total education cost ($92,652)
Student Loan Payoff for Classics in Columbus
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbus for Classics
Ohio State University
public
$11,936/yr
$47,744 total
Capital University
private
$39,426/yr
$157,704 total
Franklin University
private
$11,683/yr
$46,732 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Columbus State Community College
$5,016/yr
Top Employers for Classics in Columbus
Columbus offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Classics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbus Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Classics Job Titles
Classics in Nearby Ohio Cities
Cleveland, OH
$48K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$51K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$54K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$53K starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Dayton, OH
$52K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$45K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$42K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$43K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Columbus
Chinese Studies
$57K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$45K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$43K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$45K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$43K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$52K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics Degree in Columbus — 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 Classics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Columbus.