English Degree in Jackson, MS — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Jackson, MS. 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
13.2 yrs
in Jackson
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
English in Jackson, MS Overview
Jackson, Mississippi (pop. 153,701) has 11 colleges offering English programs. The local cost of living index of 93 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $855/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 Jackson is approximately $39,060.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$8,684/yr
Private Tuition
$27,400/yr
Room & Board
$12,839/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,629/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
62%
English Salary in Jackson (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jackson's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Jackson adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Jackson
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Jackson tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,684 | Private avg: $27,400
Jackson avg aid: $14,629/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,092
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,510
vs HS diploma in Jackson
ROI Payback Period
13.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jackson
$118,508
Lifetime earnings premium ($204,600) minus total education cost ($86,092)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Jackson
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jackson for English
Jackson State University
public
$8,684/yr
$34,736 total
Belhaven University
private
$27,400/yr
$109,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hinds Community College
$3,300/yr
Top Employers for English in Jackson
Jackson offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jackson Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Mississippi Cities
Other Humanities Majors in Jackson
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
Classical Studies
$42K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$47K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$39K starting · 5 yr ROI
English Degree in Jackson — 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 Jackson.