English Degree in Fort Collins, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Fort Collins, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
14.5 yrs
in Fort Collins
Cost of Living
126
index (100 = avg)
English in Fort Collins, CO Overview
While Fort Collins has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, English students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $19,826/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Fort Collins is approximately $52,920.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,138/yr
Private Tuition
$33,574/yr
Room & Board
$19,826/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,695/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
English Salary in Fort Collins (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fort Collins's cost of living index of 126 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Fort Collins adjustment factor: 1.26x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Fort Collins
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Fort Collins tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,138 | Private avg: $33,574
Fort Collins avg aid: $10,695/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$127,856
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,820
vs HS diploma in Fort Collins
ROI Payback Period
14.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fort Collins
$149,344
Lifetime earnings premium ($277,200) minus total education cost ($127,856)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Fort Collins
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fort Collins for English
Colorado State University
public
$12,138/yr
$48,552 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Front Range Community College
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for English in Fort Collins
Fort Collins offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fort Collins Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$54K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$51K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$47K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$44K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$43K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$44K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$44K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$51K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Fort Collins
Chinese Studies
$69K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$63K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$55K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$63K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$55K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$63K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$53K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$63K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Fort Collins — 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 Fort Collins.