English Degree in Knoxville, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Knoxville, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$36K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$53K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
12.8 yrs
in Knoxville
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
English in Knoxville, TN Overview
While Knoxville has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, English students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $10,300/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Knoxville is approximately $35,700.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,792/yr
Private Tuition
$47,660/yr
Room & Board
$10,300/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,344/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
English Salary in Knoxville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Knoxville's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Knoxville adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Knoxville
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Knoxville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,792 | Private avg: $47,660
Knoxville avg aid: $10,344/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$76,368
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,950
vs HS diploma in Knoxville
ROI Payback Period
12.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Knoxville
$110,632
Lifetime earnings premium ($187,000) minus total education cost ($76,368)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Knoxville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Knoxville for English
University of Tennessee
public
$13,264/yr
$53,056 total
Pellissippi State Community College
public
$4,320/yr
$17,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pellissippi State Community College
$4,320/yr
Top Employers for English in Knoxville
Knoxville offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Knoxville Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$39K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Memphis, TN
$39K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Chattanooga, TN
$34K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$38K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$38K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$50K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$35K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$44K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Knoxville
Chinese Studies
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$43K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$37K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$43K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$37K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$43K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$36K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$43K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Knoxville — 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 Knoxville.