Gender Studies Degree in Boston, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Gender Studies degree analysis for Boston, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$69K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$75K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.6 yrs
in Boston
Cost of Living
137
index (100 = avg)
Gender Studies in Boston, MA Overview
Boston is one of Massachusetts's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 40,388. Public tuition averages $14,167/year here — near the national average for public universities. 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 Boston is approximately $68,500.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$14,167/yr
Private Tuition
$60,730/yr
Room & Board
$14,423/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,458/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
56%
Gender Studies Salary in Boston (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Boston's cost of living index of 137 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Gender Studies salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Boston adjustment factor: 1.37x based on the local cost of living index.
Gender Studies ROI Calculator for Boston
Estimate your return on investment for a Gender Studies degree using local Boston tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,167 | Private avg: $60,730
Boston avg aid: $10,458/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$114,360
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$20,550
vs HS diploma in Boston
ROI Payback Period
5.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Boston
$63,740
Lifetime earnings premium ($178,100) minus total education cost ($114,360)
Student Loan Payoff for Gender Studies in Boston
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Boston for Gender Studies
Boston University
private
$62,360/yr
$249,440 total
Northeastern University
private
$59,100/yr
$236,400 total
University of Massachusetts Boston
public
$14,167/yr
$56,668 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bunker Hill Community College
$5,760/yr
Roxbury Community College
$5,280/yr
Top Employers for Gender Studies in Boston
Boston offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Gender Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Boston Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Gender Studies Job Titles
Gender Studies in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Worcester, MA
$59K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$64K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$51K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Boston
Chinese Studies
$75K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$69K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$60K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$69K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$58K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$60K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$69K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$58K starting · 5 yr ROI
Gender Studies Degree in Boston — 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 Boston.