English Degree in Kent, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Kent, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$72K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
12.9 yrs
in Kent
Cost of Living
115.8
index (100 = avg)
English in Kent, WA Overview
Kent, Washington (pop. 136,588) has 6 colleges offering English programs. The local cost of living index of 115.8 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,440/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 Kent is approximately $48,636.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,433/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,467/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
English Salary in Kent (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kent's cost of living index of 115.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Kent adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Kent
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Kent tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Kent avg aid: $12,467/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$104,932
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,106
vs HS diploma in Kent
ROI Payback Period
12.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kent
$149,828
Lifetime earnings premium ($254,760) minus total education cost ($104,932)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Kent
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kent for English
Kent State University
public
$12,886/yr
$51,544 total
University of Kent
public
$10,829/yr
$43,316 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Kent Community College
$5,759/yr
Top Employers for English in Kent
Kent offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Kent Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$50K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$51K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$47K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$46K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$75K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$50K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$51K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$52K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Kent
Chinese Studies
$64K 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
$49K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$58K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Kent — 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 Kent.