Gender Studies Degree in Surprise, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Gender Studies degree analysis for Surprise, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$55K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.9 yrs
in Surprise
Cost of Living
100.2
index (100 = avg)
Gender Studies in Surprise, AZ Overview
Surprise, Arizona (pop. 143,148) has 6 colleges offering Gender Studies programs. The local cost of living index of 100.2 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,095/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 Surprise is approximately $50,100.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$11,400/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,357/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,568/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
49%
Gender Studies Salary in Surprise (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Surprise's cost of living index of 100.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Gender Studies salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Surprise adjustment factor: 1.00x based on the local cost of living index.
Gender Studies ROI Calculator for Surprise
Estimate your return on investment for a Gender Studies degree using local Surprise tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,400 | Private avg: $24,000
Surprise avg aid: $13,568/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,028
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,030
vs HS diploma in Surprise
ROI Payback Period
6.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Surprise
$27,232
Lifetime earnings premium ($130,260) minus total education cost ($103,028)
Student Loan Payoff for Gender Studies in Surprise
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Surprise for Gender Studies
Surprise State University
public
$12,369/yr
$49,476 total
University of Surprise
public
$12,295/yr
$49,180 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Surprise Community College
$5,065/yr
Top Employers for Gender Studies in Surprise
Surprise offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Gender Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Surprise Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Gender Studies Job Titles
Gender Studies in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$76K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$58K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$55K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$62K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$60K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$53K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$63K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$52K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Surprise
Chinese Studies
$55K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$50K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$44K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$50K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$42K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$44K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$45K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$50K starting · 8 yr ROI
Gender Studies Degree in Surprise — 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 Surprise.