Gender Studies Degree in Vancouver, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Gender Studies degree analysis for Vancouver, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$60K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.6 yrs
in Vancouver
Cost of Living
108.5
index (100 = avg)
Gender Studies in Vancouver, WA Overview
Vancouver, Washington (pop. 190,915) has 7 colleges offering Gender Studies programs. The local cost of living index of 108.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,260/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 Vancouver is approximately $54,250.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,054/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,206/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
61%
Gender Studies Salary in Vancouver (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Vancouver's cost of living index of 108.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Gender Studies salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Vancouver adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Gender Studies ROI Calculator for Vancouver
Estimate your return on investment for a Gender Studies degree using local Vancouver tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Vancouver avg aid: $15,206/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$107,416
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,275
vs HS diploma in Vancouver
ROI Payback Period
6.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Vancouver
$33,634
Lifetime earnings premium ($141,050) minus total education cost ($107,416)
Student Loan Payoff for Gender Studies in Vancouver
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Vancouver for Gender Studies
Vancouver State University
public
$12,455/yr
$49,820 total
University of Vancouver
public
$11,321/yr
$45,284 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Vancouver Community College
$6,084/yr
Top Employers for Gender Studies in Vancouver
Vancouver offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Gender Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Vancouver Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Gender Studies Job Titles
Gender Studies in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$60K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$61K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$57K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$89K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$58K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$61K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$62K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Vancouver
Chinese Studies
$60K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$54K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$48K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$46K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$48K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$54K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$46K starting · 5 yr ROI
Gender Studies Degree in Vancouver — 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 Vancouver.