English Degree in Arlington, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Arlington, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$39K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
15.6 yrs
in Arlington
Cost of Living
93.5
index (100 = avg)
English in Arlington, TX Overview
Arlington, Texas (pop. 394,266) has 14 colleges offering English programs. The local cost of living index of 93.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $795/month. Although national enrollment in English has been declining, graduates with skills in Writing and Critical Analysis remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Arlington is approximately $39,270.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,627/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,822/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
51%
English Salary in Arlington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Arlington's cost of living index of 93.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Arlington adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Arlington
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Arlington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Arlington avg aid: $14,822/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,108
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,545
vs HS diploma in Arlington
ROI Payback Period
15.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Arlington
$103,592
Lifetime earnings premium ($205,700) minus total education cost ($102,108)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Arlington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Arlington for English
Arlington State University
public
$11,254/yr
$45,016 total
University of Arlington
public
$12,320/yr
$49,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Arlington Community College
$5,331/yr
Texas Technical College - Arlington
$5,252/yr
Top Employers for English in Arlington
Arlington offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Arlington Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$48K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$50K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$44K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$45K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$42K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$39K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$34K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$36K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Arlington
Chinese Studies
$51K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$47K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$41K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$47K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$41K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$47K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$39K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$47K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Arlington — 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 English ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Arlington.