English Degree in Kansas City, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Kansas City, MO. 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
13.8 yrs
in Kansas City
Cost of Living
94
index (100 = avg)
English in Kansas City, MO Overview
Kansas City is one of Missouri's top college towns, with 44 institutions and a student population of 48,810. Public tuition averages $11,602/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 Kansas City is approximately $39,480.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
44
Public Tuition
$11,602/yr
Private Tuition
$28,175/yr
Room & Board
$11,026/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,485/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
45%
English Salary in Kansas City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kansas City's cost of living index of 94 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Kansas City adjustment factor: 0.94x 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: $11,602 | Private avg: $28,175
Kansas City avg aid: $15,485/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,512
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,580
vs HS diploma in Kansas City
ROI Payback Period
13.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kansas City
$116,288
Lifetime earnings premium ($206,800) minus total education cost ($90,512)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Kansas City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kansas City for English
University of Missouri-Kansas City
public
$11,602/yr
$46,408 total
Rockhurst University
private
$42,960/yr
$171,840 total
Park University
private
$13,390/yr
$53,560 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Metropolitan Community College
$3,900/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 Missouri Cities
St. Louis, MO
$41K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$34K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Columbia, MO
$35K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$36K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$40K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$37K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$38K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$35K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Kansas City
Chinese Studies
$52K 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
Classics
$47K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$39K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$47K 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.