English Degree in Boston, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Boston, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$85K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
11.9 yrs
in Boston
Cost of Living
137
index (100 = avg)
English in Boston, MA Overview
Boston is one of Massachusetts's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 40,388. Public tuition averages $14,167/year here — near the national average for public universities. 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 Boston is approximately $57,540.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$14,167/yr
Private Tuition
$60,730/yr
Room & Board
$14,423/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,458/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
56%
English Salary in Boston (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Boston's cost of living index of 137 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Boston adjustment factor: 1.37x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Boston
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Boston tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,167 | Private avg: $60,730
Boston avg aid: $10,458/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$114,360
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,590
vs HS diploma in Boston
ROI Payback Period
11.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Boston
$187,040
Lifetime earnings premium ($301,400) minus total education cost ($114,360)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Boston
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Boston for English
Boston University
private
$62,360/yr
$249,440 total
Northeastern University
private
$59,100/yr
$236,400 total
University of Massachusetts Boston
public
$14,167/yr
$56,668 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bunker Hill Community College
$5,760/yr
Roxbury Community College
$5,280/yr
Top Employers for English in Boston
Boston offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Boston Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Worcester, MA
$49K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$56K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$56K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$47K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$46K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$54K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$43K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$50K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Boston
Chinese Studies
$75K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$69K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$60K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$69K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$60K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$69K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$58K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$69K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Boston — 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 Boston.