Gender Studies Degree in Aurora, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Gender Studies degree analysis for Aurora, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$51K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.4 yrs
in Aurora
Cost of Living
92.8
index (100 = avg)
Gender Studies in Aurora, IL Overview
Aurora, Illinois (pop. 180,542) has 7 colleges offering Gender Studies programs. The local cost of living index of 92.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $780/month. Although national enrollment in Gender Studies has been declining, graduates with skills in Critical Theory and Research Methods remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Aurora is approximately $46,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$15,400/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,856/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,682/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
65%
Gender Studies Salary in Aurora (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Aurora's cost of living index of 92.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Gender Studies salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Aurora adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Gender Studies ROI Calculator for Aurora
Estimate your return on investment for a Gender Studies degree using local Aurora tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,400 | Private avg: $38,000
Aurora avg aid: $14,682/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$117,024
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,920
vs HS diploma in Aurora
ROI Payback Period
8.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Aurora
$3,616
Lifetime earnings premium ($120,640) minus total education cost ($117,024)
Student Loan Payoff for Gender Studies in Aurora
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Aurora for Gender Studies
Aurora State University
public
$14,742/yr
$58,968 total
University of Aurora
public
$15,345/yr
$61,380 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Aurora Community College
$5,489/yr
Top Employers for Gender Studies in Aurora
Aurora offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Gender Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Aurora Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Gender Studies Job Titles
Gender Studies in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$55K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Joliet, IL
$54K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$51K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$45K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$40K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$46K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$45K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Aurora
Chinese Studies
$51K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$46K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$41K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$39K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$41K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$46K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$39K starting · 5 yr ROI
Gender Studies Degree in Aurora — 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 Gender Studies ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Aurora.