Gender Studies Degree in Torrance, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Gender Studies degree analysis for Torrance, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$81K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$89K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.2 yrs
in Torrance
Cost of Living
162.3
index (100 = avg)
Gender Studies in Torrance, CA Overview
Torrance, California (pop. 147,067) has 6 colleges offering Gender Studies programs. The local cost of living index of 162.3 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,760/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 Torrance is approximately $81,150.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$17,017/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,091/yr
Unemployment
5.3%
Graduation Rate
68%
Gender Studies Salary in Torrance (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Torrance's cost of living index of 162.3 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Gender Studies salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Torrance adjustment factor: 1.62x based on the local cost of living index.
Gender Studies ROI Calculator for Torrance
Estimate your return on investment for a Gender Studies degree using local Torrance tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Torrance avg aid: $15,091/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$126,068
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,345
vs HS diploma in Torrance
ROI Payback Period
5.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Torrance
$84,922
Lifetime earnings premium ($210,990) minus total education cost ($126,068)
Student Loan Payoff for Gender Studies in Torrance
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Torrance for Gender Studies
Torrance State University
public
$14,860/yr
$59,440 total
University of Torrance
public
$15,109/yr
$60,436 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Torrance Community College
$6,853/yr
Top Employers for Gender Studies in Torrance
Torrance offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Gender Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Torrance 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
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 Torrance
Chinese Studies
$89K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$81K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$71K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$81K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$68K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$71K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$73K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$81K starting · 8 yr ROI
Gender Studies Degree in Torrance — 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 Torrance.