English Degree in Dallas, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Dallas, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
13.8 yrs
in Dallas
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
English in Dallas, TX Overview
Dallas is one of Texas's top college towns, with 82 institutions and a student population of 75,338. Public tuition averages $11,274/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Dallas is approximately $43,680.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
82
Public Tuition
$11,274/yr
Private Tuition
$58,540/yr
Room & Board
$13,911/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,498/yr
Unemployment
6.7%
Graduation Rate
73%
English Salary in Dallas (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Dallas's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Dallas adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Dallas
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Dallas tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,274 | Private avg: $58,540
Dallas avg aid: $14,498/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$100,740
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,280
vs HS diploma in Dallas
ROI Payback Period
13.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Dallas
$128,060
Lifetime earnings premium ($228,800) minus total education cost ($100,740)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Dallas
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Dallas for English
University of Texas at Dallas
public
$14,032/yr
$56,128 total
Southern Methodist University
private
$58,540/yr
$234,160 total
University of North Texas at Dallas
public
$8,516/yr
$34,064 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Dallas College
$2,220/yr
Top Employers for English in Dallas
Dallas offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Dallas 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
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
Arlington, TX
$39K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$34K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$36K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Dallas
Chinese Studies
$57K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$52K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$52K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Dallas — 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 Dallas.