Gender Studies Degree in Fresno, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Gender Studies degree analysis for Fresno, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$59K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.3 yrs
in Fresno
Cost of Living
118
index (100 = avg)
Gender Studies in Fresno, CA Overview
Fresno is one of California's top college towns, with 37 institutions and a student population of 23,836. Public tuition averages $7,302/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Fresno is approximately $59,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
37
Public Tuition
$7,302/yr
Private Tuition
$24,820/yr
Room & Board
$16,283/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,988/yr
Unemployment
6.5%
Graduation Rate
65%
Gender Studies Salary in Fresno (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fresno's cost of living index of 118 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Gender Studies salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Fresno adjustment factor: 1.18x based on the local cost of living index.
Gender Studies ROI Calculator for Fresno
Estimate your return on investment for a Gender Studies degree using local Fresno tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,302 | Private avg: $24,820
Fresno avg aid: $12,988/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$94,340
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,700
vs HS diploma in Fresno
ROI Payback Period
5.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fresno
$59,060
Lifetime earnings premium ($153,400) minus total education cost ($94,340)
Student Loan Payoff for Gender Studies in Fresno
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fresno for Gender Studies
California State University, Fresno
public
$7,302/yr
$29,208 total
Fresno Pacific University
private
$36,320/yr
$145,280 total
National University Fresno
private
$13,320/yr
$53,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Fresno City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Gender Studies in Fresno
Fresno offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Gender Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fresno Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Gender Studies Job Titles
Gender Studies 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
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
Bakersfield, CA
$67K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Fresno
Chinese Studies
$65K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$59K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$50K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$52K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$59K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Gender Studies Degree in Fresno — 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 Fresno.