Classics Degree in Huntington Beach, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Classics degree analysis for Huntington Beach, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$84K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$101K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5 yrs
in Huntington Beach
Cost of Living
168.5
index (100 = avg)
Classics in Huntington Beach, CA Overview
Huntington Beach, California (pop. 198,711) has 8 colleges offering Classics programs. The local cost of living index of 168.5 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,880/month. 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 Huntington Beach is approximately $84,250.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
8
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$17,049/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,141/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
73%
Classics Salary in Huntington Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Huntington Beach's cost of living index of 168.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Classics salary: $50,000 starting, $60,000 mid-career, $75,000 senior level.Huntington Beach adjustment factor: 1.69x based on the local cost of living index.
Classics ROI Calculator for Huntington Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Classics degree using local Huntington Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Huntington Beach avg aid: $8,141/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$126,196
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,275
vs HS diploma in Huntington Beach
ROI Payback Period
5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Huntington Beach
$143,404
Lifetime earnings premium ($269,600) minus total education cost ($126,196)
Student Loan Payoff for Classics in Huntington Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Huntington Beach for Classics
Huntington Beach State University
public
$13,570/yr
$54,280 total
University of Huntington Beach
public
$16,348/yr
$65,392 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Huntington Beach Community College
$7,272/yr
Top Employers for Classics in Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Classics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Huntington Beach Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Classics Job Titles
Classics 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 Huntington Beach
Chinese Studies
$93K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$84K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$74K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$84K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$71K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$74K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$76K starting · 6 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$71K starting · 5 yr ROI
Classics Degree in Huntington Beach — 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 Huntington Beach.