English Degree in Kansas City, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Kansas City, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$35K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$51K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
16.1 yrs
in Kansas City
Cost of Living
82.5
index (100 = avg)
English in Kansas City, KS Overview
Kansas City, Kansas (pop. 156,607) has 6 colleges offering English programs. The local cost of living index of 82.5 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $405/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 Kansas City is approximately $34,650.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$10,000/yr
Private Tuition
$28,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,267/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,093/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
61%
English Salary in Kansas City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kansas City's cost of living index of 82.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Kansas City adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Kansas City
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Kansas City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,000 | Private avg: $28,000
Kansas City avg aid: $14,093/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,068
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,775
vs HS diploma in Kansas City
ROI Payback Period
16.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kansas City
$88,432
Lifetime earnings premium ($181,500) minus total education cost ($93,068)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Kansas City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kansas City for English
Kansas City State University
public
$9,282/yr
$37,128 total
University of Kansas City
public
$9,330/yr
$37,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Kansas City Community College
$5,644/yr
Top Employers for English in Kansas City
Kansas City offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Kansas City Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$44K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Overland Park, KS
$43K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Olathe, KS
$41K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$35K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$45K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$36K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$40K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$40K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Kansas City
Chinese Studies
$45K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$41K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$36K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$41K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$36K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$41K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$35K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$41K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Kansas City — 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 Kansas City.