Classics Degree in Jackson, MS — Salary & ROI 2026
Classics degree analysis for Jackson, MS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Jackson
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Classics in Jackson, MS Overview
Jackson, Mississippi (pop. 153,701) has 11 colleges offering Classics programs. The local cost of living index of 93 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $855/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 Jackson is approximately $46,500.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$8,684/yr
Private Tuition
$27,400/yr
Room & Board
$12,839/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,629/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
62%
Classics Salary in Jackson (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jackson's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Classics salary: $50,000 starting, $60,000 mid-career, $75,000 senior level.Jackson adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Classics ROI Calculator for Jackson
Estimate your return on investment for a Classics degree using local Jackson tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,684 | Private avg: $27,400
Jackson avg aid: $14,629/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,092
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,950
vs HS diploma in Jackson
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jackson
$62,708
Lifetime earnings premium ($148,800) minus total education cost ($86,092)
Student Loan Payoff for Classics in Jackson
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jackson for Classics
Jackson State University
public
$8,684/yr
$34,736 total
Belhaven University
private
$27,400/yr
$109,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hinds Community College
$3,300/yr
Top Employers for Classics in Jackson
Jackson offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Classics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jackson Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Classics Job Titles
Classics in Nearby Mississippi Cities
Other Humanities Majors in Jackson
Chinese Studies
$51K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$47K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$41K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$47K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$39K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$41K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$42K starting · 6 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$39K starting · 5 yr ROI
Classics Degree in Jackson — 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 Jackson.