English Degree in Houston, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Houston, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$71K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
11.8 yrs
in Houston
Cost of Living
115
index (100 = avg)
English in Houston, TX Overview
Houston is one of Texas's top college towns, with 90 institutions and a student population of 71,513. Public tuition averages $10,200/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 Houston is approximately $48,300.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
90
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$56,280/yr
Room & Board
$13,520/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,081/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
72%
English Salary in Houston (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Houston's cost of living index of 115 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Houston adjustment factor: 1.15x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Houston
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Houston tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $56,280
Houston avg aid: $13,081/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$94,880
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,050
vs HS diploma in Houston
ROI Payback Period
11.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Houston
$158,120
Lifetime earnings premium ($253,000) minus total education cost ($94,880)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Houston
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Houston for English
University of Houston
public
$11,164/yr
$44,656 total
Rice University
private
$56,280/yr
$225,120 total
Texas Southern University
public
$9,236/yr
$36,944 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Houston Community College
$2,688/yr
Top Employers for English in Houston
Houston offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Houston Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Texas Cities
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
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 Houston
Chinese Studies
$63K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$58K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$51K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$58K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$51K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$58K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$48K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$58K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Houston — 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 Houston.