Classics Degree in Ontario, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Classics degree analysis for Ontario, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$72K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.4 yrs
in Ontario
Cost of Living
120.3
index (100 = avg)
Classics in Ontario, CA Overview
Ontario, California (pop. 175,265) has 7 colleges offering Classics programs. The local cost of living index of 120.3 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,500/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 Ontario is approximately $60,150.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,501/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,507/yr
Unemployment
4.3%
Graduation Rate
62%
Classics Salary in Ontario (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Ontario's cost of living index of 120.3 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Classics salary: $50,000 starting, $60,000 mid-career, $75,000 senior level.Ontario adjustment factor: 1.20x based on the local cost of living index.
Classics ROI Calculator for Ontario
Estimate your return on investment for a Classics degree using local Ontario tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Ontario avg aid: $11,507/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$116,004
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,045
vs HS diploma in Ontario
ROI Payback Period
6.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Ontario
$76,476
Lifetime earnings premium ($192,480) minus total education cost ($116,004)
Student Loan Payoff for Classics in Ontario
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Ontario for Classics
Ontario State University
public
$15,124/yr
$60,496 total
University of Ontario
public
$13,870/yr
$55,480 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ontario Community College
$6,160/yr
Top Employers for Classics in Ontario
Ontario offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Classics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Ontario 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 Ontario
Chinese Studies
$66K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$60K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$60K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$51K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$53K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$54K starting · 6 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Classics Degree in Ontario — 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 Ontario.